After a slow (some would say disappointing) start to the previous season with 0 points out of the first 4 matches, the first team are pleased this year is off to a better start. With a win and draw in the first two matches, we share 2nd place in the division with Braunstone at the moment!
The first match against Braunstone was very close. After a draw for Ray, a loss for Kevin and a win for Simon, the scores were level. Gijs was up an exchange playing Jim Bingham – but with less than two minutes on the clock. A draw offer was eventually accepted, leaving the score fully level.
The second match of the season didn’t start so well, with Ray losing to Lawrence Hayden. Gijs won a bishop in a tactically complex middlegame, after which his opponent played on but had lost heart. At this point Kevin wasn’t in the best of positions, down a pawn, and given he was slightly outgraded by Richard Vann things didn’t look great. However, Richard missed a tactic and resigned when realising he would be down significant material. Simon’s game went to the wire, but his dominance of the light-squared diagonal with a bishop and queen paid off and led to a convincing win, and a 3-1 result!
Away games against Loughborough, Syston, Wigston and Shepshed are next on the calendar, before the Christmas break, and of course we now hope to continue our good form (and good fortune).
Kirby 1 has a strong start to the season
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