Wolverhampton WDCL (Div.1)
108
08 Sept 2011
Note: Both teams were missing key players for the opening match of the new WDCL season, which lead to a more tightly contested match than might have been expected. Phil Porter was the first to break ranks, entering a complex and dangerous position out of the opening, with both queens taking rooks and entering the opposing back ranks to threaten the enemy king. Dave Daniels agreed a quick draw in a balanced position and Gordon Sands went an early pawn up, giving a promising match position early on. Unfortunately, the complications in Phil's game lead to him losing a piece in a flurry of exchanges. Peter Pearson-Jones reached a complex but level position in the middle game, just as Rob Marshall went the exchange down on Board 1 following a sustained attack. Wolverhampton fought on bravely for a while but then Phil Porter, Peter Pearson-Jones and Rob Marshall lost in quick succession to give the game to Rushall. Dave Wightman agreed a draw with gridlocked pawns and opposite coloured bishops on Board 2 and Gordon Sands converted his advantage to win on Board 6 to improve the overall match score. However, this was a poor start to the season, which has a number of sterner tests to come. Congratulations to Rushall, for some keenly contested matches and some fine combination play, and good luck for the rest of the season.
Writeup courtesy of Dave Wightman: