Malcolm Clarke reports on the Division 4 match on the 19th March, plus the D Team’s second encounter in 2 weeks with Ringwood C, plus Winchester’s League matches, in his weekly round-up.

Chandlers Ford B lost 3.5-0.5 to Salisbury C, a result that gives the Wiltshire club the division 4 title. Peter Przybycin obtained the only half point, and even he was material down when a draw was agreed, with him having sufficient compensation for his material deficit. 

The other games in the Salisbury match saw  Simon Kay’s opponent on board 4 sacrifice a rook for a minor piece to have a couple of united passed pawns which were enough to win the game.  Sam Murphy was a piece down going into the end game and his efforts to pick up pawns in compensation made him defensively vulnerable and his opponent was able to issue a threat of check mate which he could not escape from.  Dick Meredith lost on time, but his game saw both players have the initiative at different times and went right to the wire.

For the second successive week Chandlers Ford D played Ringwood C and this time they were whitewashed, but they gave a good account of themselves with Simon Kay, Nobby George and Rob Strachan all having good positions at one point.  Both teams made one change from the previous week with Simon Kay coming in for James Lesniak while Ringwood replaced their board 4 with a player good enough to play on board 1.

Winchester A did not have a good week.  They were whitewashed by division 2 title favourites Hamble B and were beaten 4.5-0.5 by Southampton C with captain Alan Dyos picking up their only half point.  Winchester C drew 2-2 with Southampton D with a win for Mike White and draws for Steve Kitley and Brian Jack, and David Green winning a game counting for grading purposes only.