Horfield 'B' continued their poor form this year after a solid start to the season last year. Mike Gladstone played a sacrifice early on in his game that did not pay off. He played on but with a piece down did not have much of a chance to win. Mike Levene played out a solid draw.

Alan playing white gained a strong position from the opening and won a piece on move 20 as a result of a tactical oversight by his opponent. However, black was able to lodge a pawn on the seventh rank, and this was to prove decisive when Alan blundered on move 37 and allowed the pawn to queen, thus throwing away a game still technically won. Nigel played a Pirc defence but failed to attack with enough vigour on the Queen side whilst his opponent had a lot of play on the King side and soon exposed Nigel's King. Nigel fought on until move 42 where he resigned, five losses in a row now!

Prakash played an excellent game but failed to make the decisive moves at the end that would have sunk his opponent. With 45mins left on his clock, much to the annoyance of his opponent, he decided to sit it out for adjudication claiming a win in a seemingly superior position but without an obvious winning line. Three days later his opponent resigned. Harvey did not play well on the night and lost. (NP)

Mike Levene had a good win over a very strong opponent. Mike Gladstone and his opponent both had passed pawns in the end game. Mike would have accepted a draw, but in the rush to queen, Mike was one step ahead and is opponent resigned much to Mikes surprise. After further analysis, it was clear that the decision was correct.

Nigel had a better opening, but was still second best throughout the game. After just making the time control he resigned a clearly lost game. Howard had an interesting game ending up with two rooks and a bishop against a queen and rook. Howard's King was very exposed, but he had the momentum. Very difficult to adjudicate!

Harvey played a great game and was just a few moves away from mating when his opponent spotted a queen sacrifice that turned the game around. Graham played a solid game but ended up two pawns down in a very passive position. He resigned after 42 moves. (NP)

Horfield 'B' had to put out another weakened team and got beat 5-1 by a strong Clifton 'C' team. With only two 'B' team players available it was always going to be a struggle.

Alan turned down a bishop for a rook exchange to concentrate on his position but it failed to gain him the advantage. Nigel had a rare slight advantage after the opening but failed to capitalise on the situation and ended up accepting a draw. Prakash played too fast again and lost quickly after a mistake. Harvey played solidly for a draw. Graham and Benson struggled to get into their games both playing much higher graded opponents. (NP)

Horfield 'B' win 5-1 and are back in winning ways after a bad result losing 5-1 at Hanham last week.

Graham outplayed his opponent and ended up 3 pawns up at the time control. Mike Gladstone outplayed his opponent too and penetrated with both rooks on the queenside. Mike Levine looked to be under some pressure on the king side during the late opening and early middle game but soaked up the pressure to draw. Prakash retained a slight advantage throughout, refused a draw and held on until my opponent ran out of time. Harvey held on with black under some pressure against a much more experienced opponent. Gerald Mobbs agreed a draw before the game was sent off for adjudication. Nigel played a steady game ending up two pawns up after just making the 42 move time control. His opponent resigned a few days later. (NP)

Horfield win 4-2 after a top of the table battle. Mike and Alan both played solid games to win. Nigel came once again from behind to slowly etch out a winning position which Duncan Macarthur resigned after putting through Fritz. Prakash managed to loose another winning position after loosing concentration towards the end. Harvey slipped up against David Woodruff and Graham won well against J Rowlands. The win puts Horfield 'B' top on 4 out of 4. (NP)

We turned out a reasonably strong team which was just as well since Downend 'C' is no pushover.

Mike L. had a hard fought game on Board 1. He outplayed his opponent in the middlegame and managed to go the exchange up and ended up with B v R ending. Martyn Sellers managed to create a passed pawn which complicated matters. Both players are claiming a win on adjudication but given the material balance my feeling is that the result should not go against us.

Mike G. was somewhat outplayed in the opening and ended up with some white square weaknesses which he valiantly defended. Castling was on opposite wings and the middlegame looked very complicated but in the end it was his opponent who was somewhat short of time. The game was agreed drawn at the time control.

Alan played very well against a difficult opponent and won the exchange. The position remained somewhat closed and there was no obvious breakthrough apparent at the time control. However the game is technically won and the adjudication should be in our favour.

Nigel's game on Board 4 was the usual story. He came badly out of the opening (as usual) but outplayed his opponent in the middlegame and even won a pawn. But once again, time shortage played its part. His opponent managed to create an advanced passed pawn on the e-file but it was not enough for a win. After some post time-control analysis the game was agreed drawn.

My own game was a drab affair. After a couple of minor piece exchanges there was little left to do in a symmetrical position without risking a loss. I wanted to complicate matters but remembered the game a few weeks ago against Downend 'C' where I lost from a perfectly equal position after over reaching. A draw was agreed around move 19 - very boring, I know.

Harvey's opponent on Board 6 was a no-show when Bob Selway got thwarted by the building work and could not get access.

At it stands we are 2.5-1.5 up with two games adjudicated. Both look winning for us but even if I am wrong about the Board 1 game - we should still win 3.5-2.5. That will make it three wins in three matches - not a bad start to the season! (PC)

Postscript: Downend C resigned both outstanding games without adjudication.

Horfield win 3 1/2 - 2 1/2 thanks to a couple of defaults on boards 3 and 6. The team was once again half made up of 'C' team members. Howard had a good win on board 5. Prakash didn't notice that his opponents clock had stopped allowing his opponent gained an extra 45 minutes. The game would have gone on to 11:15 and with the caretaker looking around the corner waiting to lock up and after a number of repeated moves, the two agreed a draw to the benefit of Horfield. Two wins out of two. It's still early in the season, but things are looking good for Horfield 'B'. (NP)

First match of the season and Horfield 'B' have got off to a winning start. Prakash struggled to get a team out as many of the 'B' team regulars were not available and the 'C' team had a match the following night. Hence, the 'B' team mainly consisted of 'C' team players and we were heavily outgraded by a full strength Clevedon 'B' team. A strong performance from Brian, Prakash and Harvey who won their games together with three draws meant that Horfield went home winning 4.5-1.5. On the day that England won the Ashes at the Oval, Horfield 'B' overcame the grading at the Hand Stadium (NP).