Malcolm Clarke reports on 2 Chandler’s Ford matches against Salisbury -and their different outcomes. Also, Winchester C’s match against Southampton D.

Chandlers Ford C were whitewashed 4-0 by Salisbury C, but the Chandlers Ford A team had better luck in a match against Salisbury B winning 3-2 in a match which featured four draws.  Dave Holmes, Graham Stuart and Sam Murphy agreed draws early in proceedings which just left the games involving Ian Hardwick and David Culliford outstanding.  Hardwick was a pawn up and the game went down to a rook and pawn ending, which the Chandlers Ford player won after his opponent lost a rook, although by that stage in proceedings he had a winning position anyway,  Culliford agreed a draw when although after fighting back from an inferior position to be ahead on material after his opponent had allowed a pawn fork he was desperately short of time on the clock and agreed a draw to ensure the match was won.

Winchester C won 2.5-1.5 against Southampton D with Bob Cleave and Sam Rebdi the two players playing with the white pieces being their winners and Graham Payne drawing his game,  Winchester C are comfortably second in division 4, but they and third placed University C are the only teams in the division that cannot catch leaders Chandlers Ford B