..... as Ayrshire Match Captain Robert Burns wrote back in 1795, after a narrow victory over Clackmannanshire in the Lowland League. A sentiment echoed by my good self after last night's narrow 2.5-1.5 Coventry League victory over a hitherto pointless Rugby A.
It all seemed to be going pretty well (myself excepted!) early on, with Bernard R in seeming total control against Dave Riley on Board 4, Mike doing what Mike does with the White pieces on 3 and Javi slowly getting the upper hand on top board. But then total calamity - Bernard's crushing position suddenly became a lost position after a terrible mistake and we were one down. Thankfully, I had just about crawled into a playable position, but it was very complicated, as I had a queen for two rooks. There was an exchange of mistakes, and suddenly I was winning, but then it was level-ish. Then I was winning again after cheapoing the exchange, but I blundered a pawn and had to bail out with perpetual.
But almost immediately Mike delivered checkmate against Tom Burgess. He had been up two exchanges, and despite dropping one was still winning when Tom moved his king to the wrong square and the game ended dramatically. So all square and everything rested on Javi's game against Paul Colburn. Thankfully he was always better after an Alekhine's Defence and played what looked like an excellent, controlled game, making a big queenside advance, winning an exchange and then giving it back to force liquidation followed by a pawn promotion. Classy, match winning stuff!
This has cemented our second place in Division 1, where we trail 100% Warwick Uni A by a point, but have played a game more. With three matches left, we now have University teams only to play, including two against their hitherto all conquering A team. We'll just have to give it our best shot.
Which leads very nicely on to this week's song. And just be thankful that I cut out 60 seconds of audience clapping and cheering at the start! Got to love the hairstyles, though, haven't you?!
No comments:
Post a Comment