We traveled to Bath for our last match of the season with little at stake for us, whilst Bath needed at least a draw in the match to clinch the league title. We were not at full strength due to fixture clashes and some travel difficulties but Peter is to be thanked for his efforts over the season in getting out a representative team.
The first game to finish was on top board where Steve had indulged in some unusual but well prepared manoeuvres to gain some early initiative. David Buckley is a strong player and he took advantage of a slip by Steve to equalize the game and a draw was agreed. My game (Nigel) on Board 3 did not last much longer; a blocked central position made it risky to push forward on the king side without allowing Roy’s knight into a strong outpost on e5 so another draw. A third draw soon followed on Board 5 where Dave Tipper had displayed encyclopaedic opening knowledge followed by some grandmasterly play to secure a well deserved half point.
Events were not looking so rosy elsewhere. Aron’s position was very unusual but he seemed to be under pressure in the centre, Peter’s white squares looked weak, and on bottom board we were a pawn down for little obvious compensation. This last game duly subsided into a loss, soon to be followed by Peter reaching a hopeless rook ending where the b pawn could not be stopped from queening, thus ensuring that Bath took the League title. There was much handshaking and hugging as they celebrated quietly but enthusiastically. Board 2 carried on for some time with Aron’s king escaping to safety on the queenside and then, as time ran short for both players, he had the chance to force a draw by repetition but went for the win. This was a too optimistic decision and he went down to a rare defeat. Final score 4.5-1.5 to Bath.
Bath are to be congratulated on their success, thought to be their first league title for almost twenty years, and a fitting reward for the last few seasons when they have often struggled to get a team out, but sportingly have always fulfilled their fixtures without seeking postponements.
Downend will be seeking revenge in the cup final in early May!