report-6-18

Report 5/18 March 2019

Only four points separate the four teams in Division A but current leaders Preston Seconds are now only one point ahead of Poulton Firsts, who have a game in hand, and 3 points ahead of Lytham Firsts who scored a fine 3.5 - 1.5 win over them and have two games in hand. Poulton First's push to top the league was stunted when they could only draw 2.5 - 2.5 against Preston Firsts. The top three boards were all drawn and Peter Garrett beat Preston's Carl Tillotson on board four while Alan Pidcock evened the match when he ground out a win over the impressive young Ben Fearnhead. The league leaders could not find a single win against Lytham Firsts with three draws on boards 1, 2 and 4. Tom Leah took advantage of Cliff Ruttlidge's lack of development on board 3 to win and Rob Gallagher's early tactical ploy was enough to overcome Geoff Pennington on board 5. For Lytham, the door to winning the league pushed slightly further ajar.

In Division B, league leaders Morecambe came unstuck at Lytham Seconds, going down 2.5 - 1.5. Phil Raynor and Alan Giles agreed a draw in a very symmetrical pawn position on board 1 and the visitors Sean Parker seized a piece advantage over David Aspinall on board 2 leading to his win. Nevertheless, home wins on Boards 3 and 4 by Robert Tinton over Andy Wickens and Graham Taylor over Gary Bennet brought a successful conclusion to this closely fought match as Lytham Seconds took over the top spot. In the other match in this Division, a weaker-graded Bispham team fell 1-3 at home to Preston Thirds. Draws on board 1 for Blaine McGrady against Geoff Pennington and for Ron Broxson against Joss Daune on board 4 were countered by Preston victories on Board 2 for Paul O'Mara against Jakub Sosinski and on Board 3 for William Moffatt against Peter Wallace. Still only two points separate the top three.

Poulton Seconds sit proudly atop of Division C, seven points clear of both Lytham Third and Fourth teams having beaten the latter by a 3-1 victory. It was a family affair as youngster Ben Fearnhead and his father Paul beat Lythams Graham Taylor and Dennis Davies on the top two boards. Colin Wilks earned a point for the home team in defeating Ross Loughlin on board 3 but Poulton's Andrew Lane's win over John Cox on Board 4 ensured Poultons fine record in the league so far continued having played 7, and won 7.

Lytham Third and Fourth teams both won this month. Their Thirds won at Poulton Thirds with victories for Pat Coleman over Dave Hartley on Board 2 and for John Regan over Andrew Lane on Board 4. Paul Fearnhead did overcome Colin Wilks on Board 3 but on Board 1, Paul Worsley and Bob Tinton's draw secured the Lytham win. Leyland still seek their first match victory having gone down to Lytham Fourths 1 - 3. The home teams' top two boards, Sean FitzGibbon and David Clayton claimed draws against Graham Taylor and Colin Wilks respectively, but the visitors Captain, Keith Sansom beat John Morgan on Board 3, and John Cox won rather fortuitously for the visitors when Geoff Key's superior position was thwarted by the time control on board 4.

In the Rapid Play Handicap Plate semi-final, the Preston and the Lytham First teams combined grades were such that no handicap applied, and Lytham Firsts ran out winners by 6-2. The Plate Trophy will inevitably be In the Lytham Club hands as the final will be between Lytham First and Second Teams.

John Regan