With Nigel unavailable, we drafted in two C-team players, who were the first to finish by some distance. James seemed to have more material whenever I looked. First it was pawns and then it was pieces and he converted calmly and efficiently. Nigel won the exchange and then, faced with what he thought was a killing attack, resigned. Analysis afterwards showed that if he had simply returned the exchange he would have had at least an equal endgame. Ah well, one out of two from the reserves was a bit of a bonus. Unfortunately, that was as good as it got.

None of our top four looked like winning. Michael and Martin lost difficult but hard- fought games.. Andrew was next to finish - sadly he blundered in a complicated middle game position just when he was near to equalising. A long, but always losing, end game ensued. Lastly, I took far too long trying to defend a weak isolated-pawn. Not enough time left to find a-pawn break on move 30 which may have given me good chances and then Jerry did what Jerry does in these positions. I was lost when time ran out.

No excuses - the B-team seemed to be hungry for the points - and got what they needed and deserved. From the club's point of view, probably a good result, but most of us were wishing it could have been a rather closer match.