The NLC know our place. We’re the tail-end charlies of the Hamilton Russell Cup. But come what may we have managed to avoid whitewashes this season – someone always gets something. Sadly this came crashing down in our final match of the season versus the Oxford and Cambridge Club.
Let’s go through the excuses first. Mister Chamberlain was off in Spain apparently believing his passport would expire on 29 March. Mister Widdicombe was off ‘socialising’ at the Orpington reception elsewhere in the Club. So the NLC warriors didn’t have our top team and could only field five boards. Against that the O&C had a very good side out and played top chess. The NLC didn’t have its best night and many games (with some honourable exceptions) were one- sided. We were lucky to get nil!
Board 1
Doctor Kirby lost as black against his nemesis Julio Brau in a Caro-Kann. Last week the Doctor lost his positional sense on move ten. This time it didn’t get that far. A blunder on move eight led to the loss of the exchange. Fighting the urge to resign, the Doctor made a game of it and created complications, but Julio Brau saw it through despite getting into time trouble.
Way it goes Doctor K
Board 2
Mister Whiteley played a King’s Indian attack against Peter Webster. The opponent managed to get a foothold into Mister Whiteley’s position and ground away. That’s what the good ones do.
In his post match interview Mister Whiteley reflected: “You’ll see that he fought off my early attack, and then had me under a bit of pressure with 16…. Qc2. I think I fought back quite well with 18. Qb5, but the delay in developing my queen’s bishop was causing me problems. I thought I might get a draw after the big exchange of pieces on moves 25-27, but then blundered with 28 Bf1. I was hoping to win back the b pawn, and think I could have still done this eventually if I had played 28. Kf2”. Kf2 was indeed the move that kept the game level. But Peter Webster is a good player, so there’s no shame in the result.
Need a better cameraman, but unlucky Mister Whiteley
Board 3
Mister Giffin QC MA (Oxon) got into trouble early as Black against Chris Heath and stayed there. White exerted pressure on the e-file and tied up our legal star until he had no arguments left.
Good effort Mister Giffin
Board 4
Mister Dias had another difficult outing on Board 4 against the O&C friendly captain John Godfray. Sadly it was a reasonably straightforward victory for the O&C.
Mister Dias ‘protecting his skipper’ on Board 4
Board 5
The best effort of the night was from Captain Hamme on bottom board against Anna York Anderson. Despite a good points record this year our skipper said this was his best effort of the season against a much stronger player, taking the game to the last few minutes before falling to a clever mating combination.
Nearly skipper, nearly
Dinner
Though we were outclassed at the board, we weren’t at dinner. The Lamb Steak being the highlight.
No whitewash here