We completed the first half of our season’s fixtures with a home match against Bath. They were having a great season, with six wins from six matches, so a victory was essential for us to have any chance of opening up the championship race. Stirred into action by our captain’s urge to go for it we sat down to do battle.

The top board game was concluded quickly, Steve equalized with the black pieces, and a draw with David Buckley is never a bad result.

Aldrin got a promising position from the opening, with Patrick finding it hard to develop in a coherent fashion and Aldrin duly converted - 1.5-0.5 up.

So what was happening on the other boards? Oscar had a complex position with some prospects, Nigel was under a fearful attack after Steve had sacrificed the exchange and few thought that his king could survive, Peter had a small advantage in a calm position, and Mark had gone down a very sharp theory line which involved giving up material for counterplay. Any match result looked possible!

My game on Board 3 was the next to resolve itself. Steve had pursued the attack when he could have regained the material with 20 Nxe8 and 21 Nb3 and simplified to a favourable ending with an extra pawn. Nigel grabbed more material and then the natural move 21 Rh3 (which the spectators thought was decisive) could have been met with 21 ….Qxc2 covering h7 and giving up the queen for ample material. Instead Steve was reduced to trying other lines but Nigel’s activity, enhanced by the much derided French white squared bishop, forced the win.

Shortly afterwards Mark’s better knowledge in his game won material and the game. Suddenly we were 3.5- 0.5 up.

With the match secured Peter could settle for a draw in a rook ending where he had a small pull, but not enough to have realistic winning chances.

Oscar’s game was unclear (to me at least); he was pressing but short of time. All resolved in his favour-maybe we need a session in which Oscar could explain all his games- so the match ended 5-1 in our favour and the title race has been opened up but we still look like outsiders.