Horfield - Downend was a worthy final. We had enjoyed
flatteringly large winning margins in the preceding rounds, but Downend (like
us) had clearly done the gradings arithmetic in order to maximise their chances.
Almost immediately the white pieces were in the ascendant on boards 3 and 6. On
3, Mike Wood was tearing into Nigel Pollett, but our 'secret weapon', Graham
Strickland, was two pawns up against the Downend skipper, Nigel Wilcox. ( Graham
has been playing above his grade all season.)
Two hours later, and appropriately
enough for a Cup Final, the balance had swung heavily, but to the visitors.
Graham was now losing, in company with Nigel, David Reed and probably Mike
("Monroe") Gladstone. On the other hand Brian Crewe had won his game
with Mike Brannan, and I had the better of it against Neil Adams. Come the last
hour and the board 1 encounter between Paul Spiller and Mike Gladstone was to
prove decisive, and most thrilling. They had been trading blows all evening, but
the Horfield mountain man was able to land the one which settled it. Then, to
widespread surprise and the relief of the home team, David Reed forced a draw by
repetition upon Richard Palmer.
Thus we scraped home by the narrowest margin
and, as always against Downend, after an evening of enterprising chess. (HKM)
Semi-Final
Final Draw: