01/02/12

ECF have published the new mid-season gradings for the first time. Have you checked yours yet??

Our second team started their 2012 fixtures by entertaining the Wycombe reserve side & it was a tense evening as the sides shared the points. Basil & Ray drew, Jason won & a default helped level the scores.

At the end of a busy January for the first team, we were glad to set the record straight with Berkhamsted. Earlier in the season, Brian recorded our only point of the match. This time the boot was on the other foot as we all got on the scoreboard - Hans, Brian, Tim & Harry Manning (doing some handy moonlighting) were winners in a 5-1 scoreline.

Finally, those who play club champioship matches are requested to report results to the club secretary. We aren't psychic, you know...

23/01/12

Seems I may have been over-cautious & in the absence of any further news from our site provider, we are up & running again.

The first team have played twice already this year, winning the key match against Bourne End 2. Jim made his first appearance of the season & he duly recordede a win, as did Hans & Basil. Disappointingly, Tim made his return only to be confronted with an empty board. Paul Davis scored a welcome half-point & only the club secretary rescued nothing from the evening.

8 days later we made the trip to Gerrards Cross. Brian put a difficult 2011 behind him with a pleasing sacrificial win & for once, Nick had sufficient time to cash in on material advantage. Hans drew with the always useful Peter Whayman, but with Chris & Jason unable to score, Tim's game with Charles Gallagher was fated to decide the match. A long rearguard action went to the last few minutes of the evening, but it was not going to be our night & the match slipped away

10/11/11

Form often changes under the most unexpected circumstances. Two match captains often give rise to oversights not open to one & so it was we failed to field our strongest available player. Following the default, Nick's bland draw got us on the scoreboard & Basil levelled the match with a comfortable display. Francesco's first appearance ended disappointingly as we went behind again, but Brian seems to have reversed last season's decline & Hans finally broke through his opponent's position to claim the match.

02/11/11

Although nominally a first-team fixture, we were grateful to a number of second-team regulars for stepping in against the Bourne End hot-shots - surely the strongest team pool this season. While Hans was almost playing off par, the rest of us were looking down some fairly hefty grading deficits. So when he took a shortish draw, the threat of a whitewash was at least averted. But the evening remained competitive & there were surprising wins for Jason & Nick which kept the losing margin to the minimum. Our best wishes go to Harry who was forced out of the match by ill-health & thanks to Paul for stepping in at a few minutes' notice.

15/10/11

The second team got the season under way this week with a draw against the Wycombe second-string. Both sides were much changed from last season & it remains to be seen whether either team will be able to put in a challenge for the division. Each side lost 2, drew 2, won 2. Harry & Ray secured draws, while Chris & Jason brought home the wins.

The first team has taken a huge hit with loss of players since last season & it showed as Brian rescued the only point at Berkhamsted. There had been chances, with both Basil & Nick having held advantages, but ring-rustiness was decisive.