BDCL Div 2 28/11/2013: Shirley & Wythall v Wolverhampton

BDCL Div 2: 

               Shirley & Wythall vs Wolverhampton

David Thomas (151)         1 – 0    Mike Townsend (187)

John Freeman (148)        0 – 1    Parminder Sanghera (e187)

Louis Rawson (143)         0 – 1    Dave Wightman (165)

Peter McGuirk (141)       0 – 1    Phil Bull (154)

Robert Purcell (140)    0.5 – 0.5 Jonathan Hunt (153)

Gordon Christie (133) 0.5 – 0.5 Frank Wood (151)

Wolverhampton went to table-topping Shirley & Wythall with high hopes, bringing a full strength team for only the second time this season.  However, three of the team arrived substantially late due to unprecedented traffic.  In a fine display of sportsmanship by the hosts, the start was delayed for as long as possible and so the minimum time disadvantage was experienced by the affected parties.  Once play began, Phil Bull quickly went a piece up and managed to treble his opponent’s pawns in return for an attack on the white king that was quickly neutralised.  Parminder Sanghera gained a pawn and began to build an attack against the black kingside.  With the time control looming, Frank Wood went a pawn down, but Jonathan Hunt went a pawn up.  Phil Bull exchanged into a won ending and Parminder Sanghera’s attack broke through shortly afterwards for the second win of the night in quick succession.  Jonathan Hunt agreed a draw but, emerging from a time scramble a piece ahead, Dave Wightman was able to win to secure the match.  Frank Wood recovered the pawn to draw on Board 6, leaving just Mike Townsend to finish.  He had sacrificed two pawns for an attack on the white king but, when the defences held, the game was lost for an overall score of 4 – 2 to the visitors on the night.  The win pushes Wolverhampton up the league table and, more importantly, greatly relieves the concerns over potential relegation.  Thanks are due to Shirley & Wythall for bearing with the late arrivals, and for some tightly contested matches.  Good luck for the rest of the season.

By Dave Wightman

BDCL Div 2 14/11/2013: Wolverhampton v Sutton Coldfield

BDCL Div 2 Wolverhampton vs Sutton Coldfield

Mike Townsend (187)                 1 – 0     Marek Soszynski (162)

Dave Wightman (165)                 1 – 0     Glenn Windows (146)

Phil Bull (154)                            1 – 0      Arthur Kent (132)

Jonathan Hunt (151)                   1 – 0      Keith Lawson (131)

Peter Pearson-Jones (140)         0.5 – 0.5 Chris East (129)

Peter Griffith (Ung)                     1 – 0     Default

                                                  5.5 – 0.5

Wolverhampton, looking for a return to form following back-to-back indifferent performances, were buoyed by receiving a head start in the form of a default on Board 6.  With the additional advantage of nearly 20 grading points per board, the team soon moved ahead.  Dave Wightman and Jonathan Hunt won early pawns, with Jonathan developing a strong attack.  Phil Bull sacrificed a bishop for two pawns in order to break through to the black king.  In the end a 5 -2 pawn majority on the kingside proved to be unstoppable.  Mike Townsend won a rook for a bishop and Dave Wightman went a further pawn ahead, winning shortly afterwards.  Jonathan Hunt broke through to win and Peter Pearson-Jones agreed a draw in a gridlocked position, leaving Mike Townsend to close out the match for a 5.5 – 0.5 win.  Thanks are due to Sutton Coldfield for some interesting matches and good luck for the rest of the season.

By Dave Wightman

BDCL Div 2 28/10/2013: S Birmingham A v Wolverhampton A

BDCL Div 2 – South Birmingham A vs Wolverhampton

Martin Smyth (162)                1 – 0     Dave Wightman (165)

Tim Lane (159)                      0.5 – 0.5  Phil Bull (154)

Simon Williams (158)             1 – 0      Jonathan Hunt (153)

Aloysius Lip (148)                 0.5 – 0.5  Frank Wood (151)

Paul Swatridge (140)            0.5 – 0.5  Phil Porter (136)

Derek Stockhall (134)           0.5 – 0.5   Gordon Sands (120)

                                               4 – 2

South Birmingham A and Wolverhampton were both sitting comfortably in mid-table prior to this encounter.  Frank Wood was the first to break ranks, with a complex position in the centre seeming to give both sides some sharp attacking chances.  Phil Porter suffered the embarrassment of having his mobile go off during the game but, in another display of good sportsmanship, his opponent did not claim the game and a draw was agreed shortly afterwards.  Gordon Sands went a pawn down, but built a strong attack against the white king.  Jonathan Hunt succumbed to a well executed mating attack, putting the match score at 1.5 – 0.5 to the home side.  Frank Wood’s position grew progressively more complex, while Gordon Sands recovered the pawn and Phil Bull drew.  Frank Wood reached the end game a rook for bishop and pawn up, but with shattered pawns on both sides and facing lots of counter play.  Dave Wightman’s centre collapsed, putting the match position to 3 – 1, but Wolverhampton were unable to convert either of the two remaining games, agreeing draws in both cases.  Thanks to South Birmingham for some interesting games, and good luck for the rest of the season.

By  Dave Wightman