It was a bit uncharitable on Thornbury’s part to arrange for the A38 to be dug up on the night the D team visited them but we managed to negotiate the bollards in time for a prompt start.

The team had to call up cover for missing players and the three C team replacements only managed one draw between them. Alan was having 48 hours from hell and misplaced his Queen so he was able to have an early bath. Carolus won a pawn but then neglected his development which allowed his opponent to dominate the board and reach a fairly straightforward winning end game. I’m sure he will learn from his mistakes. And I could have made it nil from three when I got into an unfamiliar opening and lost a piece for two or three pawns. But they were advanced central pawns and an open f file gave me a few threats. It turned out that my counter-play won back the piece and I was happy to agree a draw in an opposite coloured bishops ending.

The D team regulars did rather better. First Nigel comfortably held board 4 to bring the match score to 1-3 and the stage was set for Joe and Dave to show us how to do it. Joe was having 48 hours from heaven and complemented the previous day’s crucial win with a masterclass in converting a pawn ending when the exchange up. Dave had an odd ending where they both had just two knights and pawns on either flank. Fortunately Dave had a two to one advantage on the Queenside and a much more active King. He was able to win White’s a pawn and then force home his b pawn - very nicely finished. He did give us palpitations by not pressing his clock after Queening but happily noticed it a few minutes later!

So, a strong fightback earned the D team another precious point in division three.

Ian Pickup