The club secretary has already recorded, in suitably glowing terms, that Crewe B will be the new NSDCA league champions. With one game left to play Crewe B remain invincible, and no one can catch them. A very impressive performance; well done to Captain Lambton and his crew.
And now on to more important issues. Crewe A ended the season, on Tuesday, with a trip to Alsager Cricket Club to play last season’s league champions. Things started badly. Richard made another long trip to play for us, but this time lost to Jonathan Blackburn, Our team captain continued his drawing rut, getting absolutely nowhere against Julian Kirk-Ogrady. Bart had a promising postion, it was awkward, but he was an exchange up against Simon Hood. Simon’s central pawns became bigger and bigger as they marched down the board and it was starting to look dodgy for us. Then in an instant things turned. Bart allowed his opponent to queen a pawn, but then sacrificed a rook for a checkmate; maybe that counts as a queen and a rook sac? Anyway; clean bowled by Bart! (Sorry could not resist that one). I have asked Bart to send in the game score to our webmaster, as it is worth seeing the flashy finish. Harry, who has had a great season, was playing nicely and at one point got to a winning rook and pawn ending against John Booth. Chess is such an absorbing game; so often of an evening you suddenly realise that your drink has gone, a couple of hours of your life have vanished, and now you are in another bewildering blitz finish. As Harry’s time reduced so did his winning chances. John won a pawn but there was no realistic way for him to win the game. Harry stopped the clocks at one point, claiming repetition, but as the game score was no longer kept the claim was denied. The game continued for another minute or so but a draw was then agreed. Match drawn. Alsager A -2 Crewe A – 2.
Bit of a weird season this one, we have finished, but as Mr Blackburn pointed out, Alsager still have half their matches left to play! For 2 years in a row we have narrowly missed out on winning the league. Still I have really enjoyed it, as always, and hope the rest of the team did too. So thanks to Richard, Bart, Harry, Dave H and Christian for taking part.