The first Hamilton-Russell match of the new season saw the NLC take on the Reform Club at Whitehall Place.
Seeing the line-ups, the NLC thought it had a chance. A few of the Reform’s big guns were away (including Danny Rosenbaum in Japan for the Rugby World Cup). Ex-Captain Hamme was on Board 4 for the Reform. Could glorious victory be on the cards?
The thinking was that if the top boards could get something against tough opposition, then the lower boards might get us over the line. As usual it didn’t work out like that – the top order fired and the lower order didn’t. The man to see the Reform home to a 3.5 – 2.5 win was ex-Captain Hamme. In some ways it was inevitable.
Board 1
Following the usual loss of the toss, Doctor Kirby essayed the Caro-Kann against the skilful Peter Evans on Board 1. White had a positional advantage and the Doctor’s pieces were disjointed. But when White pressed the attack the Doctor got back into the game and won a pawn. With nine minutes versus thirteen, a rook endgame in prospect and a cold to boot, Doctor K took the draw.
Board 2
Mister Whiteley rolled out his favourite King’s Indian Attack against the dangerous Nicholas Cron on Board 2. White was attacking on the King’s Side, Black was attacking on the Queen’s Side. Then some exchanges and all was silence as the game petered out into a draw.
Board 3
As newly-crowned Club Champion, there was only one sensible thing for Captain Chamberlain to do. Put himself on Board 3! Anyway, the strategy paid off as he had a fairly straightforward win against Robert Forrest in a Sicilian.
Board 4
Mister Giffin QC MA (Oxon) had the task of downing ex-Captain Hamme. He used his usual Scotch game, but ex-Captain Hamme managed to get a good Philidor-type defensive structure, with pressure on the e-file. With the need to get a win, Mister Giffin overpressed and was lucky to salvage a draw.
Board 5
Mister Widdicombe played reform Captain Paul Hendrick on Board 5. Black was on top having managed to get a pawn up before a disastrous rook move lost a piece. Mister Widdicombe dug in and hoped something would turn up, but his stubborn performance wasn’t enough, and the Reformer saw things home in safety.
Board 6
Not entirely sure what happened on Board 6, but Doctor Schady was white against Konstantin Yelin. It was hoped that the Reform player’s new baby would have brought on the necessary level of sleep deprivation. Sadly this was not the case as the Reform racked up another point.
And so to dinner, which as usual soothed the vicissitudes of outrageous fortune.
