Match report: Oswestry B vs Telepost C – 12th October 2009.
The B team kicked off their campaign with a fine win which saw newcomer Noel Kiffin secure an impressive victory on board 2 after launching a strong king-side attack against league controller Vinnie Crean. Captain Alf Evans continued the good work by coolly converting his advantage in a seemingly tricky rooks/pawns endgame while Euan Stevenson recorded a quickfire win against his opponent on board 4. Graham Ives chipped in with a solid draw, meaning Ron Thomson’s capitulation on top board after being a pawn up was of little consolation to the visitors.
Final score – 3.5 – 1.5 to the home team.
Match report: Wellington A vs Oswestry A – 15th October 2009.
Oswestry crashed to defeat at newly promoted Wellington A as they “melted” in the greenhouse type temperatures on offer at the hosts venue. Despite Brian Whyte’s impressive win on top board against Wellington’s new find Vikas Sharma, Ieuan Fenton was brushed contemptuously aside by Colin Roberts on board 2. The visitors fate was sealed when Gareth Hampson’s Barry Attack flopped after early impetus on the king-side and Keith Grice found experienced veteran Derrick Powell on good defensive form after he won a piece and hung on to it grimly. There was some cheer though on bottom board as Graham Ives maintained his impressive unbeaten run going with a solid draw against James Kuczynski.
Match report: Oswestry A vs Telford & Shifnal A – 26th October 2009.
Oswestry bounced back from their previous defeat to put in an impressive display against the reigning Shropshire league champions Shifnal & Telford A. Ieuan Fenton led the way on board 3 against Iain Wilson – a sparkling king-side attack with the black pieces began with an ingenious pawn sacrifice on move 11 with the ensuing complications proving too much for Wilson who resigned after only 11 more moves. Steve Jones, in his debut performance for Oswestry this season, ran his opponents clock down to make the score 2-0. Two tense, hard fought draws on boards 1 & 2 ensured Oswestry sealed the win. Finally captain Ashley Peile whose game was last to finish, capped off the great night by recording a win after being a piece up for much of the game to make the final score 4-1 to the home team.
The season got off to an inauspicious start for Oswestry’s A team as they lost 3.5 to 1.5 against Coddon A in their opening fixture. Despite Simon Hughes carrying on his impressive form from last season on top board and registering a win over Glyn Pugh on top board and Graham Ives gaining a creditable draw against the highly experienced John Tunks with the black pieces their efforts were not quite enough. On board 2 Brian Whyte lost a piece to the ever improving Andy Tunks (see game below) while on board 3 Gareth Hampson could not cement the advantage he gained from the unusual opening adopted by Gary White. Late stand in Alf Evans also lost on board 5 to Nathaniel Paul, another player whose grade is sharply on the upgrade.
A Tunks vs B Whyte:
1 d4 e6 2 Nf3 d5 3 c4 c5 4 cxd5 exd5 5 g3 Nc6 6 Bg2 Nf6 7 O-O Be7 8 Nc3 O-O 9 Be3 cxd4 10 Nxd4 Re8 11 Qd2 Na5 12 b3 Be6 13 Rac1 h6 14 Bf4 Ba3 15 Rc2 a6 16 Nb1! Bf8 17 Bc7 and Brian resigned, as the bishop fork means he loses a piece.
The season saw an improved performance from Oswestry A as they beat Shrewsbury A 3.5-1.5 in their second fixture of the season. The home team were soon in control when Ieuan Fenton won very quickly after winning a piece on board 3 against a familiar Shropshire league adversary of his– Francis Best. Captain Ashley Peile put in a solid display to draw with Ray Cox to maintain the team’s advantage and despite Gareth Hampson’s defeat against Mark Smith on the black side of a Grunfeld opening, both the top boards won with Simon Hughes coolly displaying excellent technique in a rook and pawn end-game against David Everington and Brian Whyte beating Peter Kitchen in a game that was last to finish at almost 11-00 p.m!
Game to show: Simon’s?
11th February 2009
CHESS REPORT
Current Division One leaders Shifnal & Telford A, discovered what most teams in the Shropshire League already know, that playing Oswestry A at home isn't easy. In fact Shifnal hadn't lost a match all season, but all that changed at the Oswestrian! Club Secretary Keith Grice got Oswestry off to a flyer with a comfortable draw against Gareth Edwards, but Shifnal’s Winsor Peck got the better of Ashley Peile on table five. Fortunately, the ebullient Sirnon Hughes leveled things with a comprehensive win over Colin Roberts, then Ieuan Fenton, with his expert analysis of the match situation, orlered Ian Wilson a draw, which the Shimal captain accepted, leaving the game on table one between Oswestry's Brian Whyte and Trevor Brotherton to decide the contest Whyte, who had lost earlier in the season to Brotherton, played magnificently, checkmating the Shifnal man in the dying seconds of the game, allowing Oswestry to claim both points, which keeps their Championship hopes alive.
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Oswestry B returned to winning ways in Division Three away to Telepost C, Wins for Alf Evans and Richard Farrall, helped Oswestry secure the victory and the points.
26th January 2009
REPORT
In Division One of the Shropshire Chess League, second placed Oswestry A's_away match to fourth placed Shrewsbury A saw Ieuan Fenton's unbeaten run sadly come to an end. Seventeen year old Fenton, who was recently selected to play for Shropshire, faced Francis Best on table three. Despite being out-graded Fenton played with his usual flare, and only just lost a close contest. Simon Hughes however did maintain his unbeaten run, seeing off David Everington on table two. Brian Whyte once again locked horns with England under 18 captain Philip Makepeace, resulting as before, in a draw, and Gareth Hampson gained a good draw against Ray Cox, but a loss on table four saw
Oswestry lose the match by the narrowest of margins.In Division Three, Oswestry B saw their promotion hopes evaporate, losing to Shifnal & Telford D at the Oswestrian. Fielding his strongest side, Oswestry team captain Richard Farrall suffered a shock when the usually dependable Steve Tulett lost to the Shifnal captain James Beddoes early in the contest, Farrall himself suffered the indignity of being Check Mated by Martin Perry, Fortunately for the home side Graham Ives won a good game on table four, but defeat for Alf Evans on table three meant that Ron Thompson's draw on table one was only scant consolation in what was a disappointing result for Oswestry,
8th January 2009
CHESS REPORT
In Division One. the New Year saw Oswestry A continue their rich vein of form with a fine win at home against Coddon A.
Wins on table one, two, and five by Brian Whyte, Simon Hughes and Gareth Hampson respectively, ensured Oswestry the two points, leaving the connoisseurs to enjoy the game on table three between leuan Fenton, and Coddon‘s Peter Mellor. Fourteen year old Mellor, playing white, began with a Queen's pawn opening which Fenton met with the Dutch Defence. The game seemed even until seventeen year old Fenton miscalculated and Mellor went a knight up. However, the Coddon player couldn't make the advantage a winning one, and the two exceptional juniors agreed a draw.
In Division Three, Oswestry B's away trip to Coddon B sadly saw the end of Steve Tulett's unbeaten run, losing on table one to the in form Peter Mellor. On table four, Graham Ives won his sixth consecutive match of the season against Alan Shaw, But a loss on table five, and Alf Evans having to accept a draw on table three, meant that Oswestry team captain Richard Farrall had to win his game on table two, against Alan Pickles, to salvage a point for his team. The three hour marathon drew a large crowd, but despite Farralls best effort. Pickles made mil use of a time advantage and won on the clock.
5th December 2008
CHESS OSWESTRY - JUST AWESOME
In division One of the Shropshire League, the absence of Brian Whyte saw a reorganised Oswestry A entertain Church Stretton at the Oswestrian, Any hopes that the visitors might get something out of the encounter were quickly dashed, as Oswestry put in a power house performance, winning the match 4-1.
In form Ieuan Fenton won his fifth consecutive game for the club, forcing a bewildered opponent to resign on move 26. (Fenton's doing a lot of that this season!) Team captain Gareth Hampson played a very clever game on table five, winning on time against Tom Williamson, and Simon Hughes won a breathtaking game on table one with only seconds left on his clock. Whilst the game on table four could only be described as bizarre. Oswestry's Ashley Peile. opened with the white pieces, which Church Stretton's John Whittaker met with the Sicilian Defence,, and the game seemed evenly balanced as it moved into the middle game, when, for no apparent reason, Whittaker resigned. Whatever the experienced Whittaker saw on the board remains a mystery to everyone including Ashley Peile.
The Shropshire Individual Championship recently got underway, with Oswestry's Simon Hughes -defeating Newport's 'wonder kid' Athar Mehmood, with a check mate. We wish Simon all the best for future rounds.
Oswestry B did not have a match this week.
21st November 2008
CHESS
Week five of the Shropshire Chess season brought a certain amount of disappointment to the Oswestry Club. Oswestry A could only manage a draw against division one strugglers, Telepost B at Shrewsbury. In form leuan Fenton got Oswestry off to a great start with a quick win over Peter Crean on table three. Likewise, Brian Whyte had no difficulty defeating Telepost's John Bashall on table one, but a loss by Gareth Hampson, and a drawn game by Simon Hughes meant that Oswestry club secretary Keith Grice had to at least draw his game against John Westhead to ensure Oswestry won the match. However, despite his best efforts Grice lost on time, and the points were shared.
In division three,Oswestry B travelled away to play Shrewsbury Juniors, and although Graham Ives won his fourth consecutive game for Oswestry, things didn't go well for the B team. Losses on tables two and five, and only a draw on table one, meant that Alf Evans had to win his game against Shrewsbury's Frances Rooney for Oswestry to salvage a draw. But try as he, might Evans could not break down the youngster's defences and a draw was agreed, which saw Oswestry lose the match 3-2.
8th November 2008
CHESS ANOTHER GOOD WEEK FOR QSWESTRY
In division one, the return of first team regulars leuan Fenton and Ashley Peile boosted Oswestry's confidence when they entertained reigning champions, Telepost A, at the Oswestrian. Indeed it was Peile who gave Oswestry a solid start with a draw, by means of a perpetual check, against the highly regarded John Bashall. Team captain Gareth Hampson likewise gained a valuable draw on table five. On table three leuan Fenton, playing with the black pieces, met Telepost's Keith Tabner's opening with the Dutch Defense, and the game seemed evenly balanced up to the 21st move, when Fenton blundered away a bishop. To most bystanders, the game seemed lost, but Fenton played on, and after some clever play, forced a number of errors out of the experience Tabner, winning the game for Oswestry, It was Simon Hughes, on table two, who rounded off an exceptional evening with a fine win over Telepost captain Richard Bryant, ensuring an historic win for Oswestry,
In division three, Steve Tulett maintained his unbeaten record with a splendid win on table one. to help Oswestry B win their tricky away match a Newport Juniors. Further wins on tables four and live, by Graham Ives and Terry White, secured the two points for Oswestry, which consolidates their position near the top of the league
24th October 2008
Oswestry Chess Club
In division one, the absence of key personnel meant Oswestry A's trip to top of the table Shifnal and Telford A was always going to be difficult, and so it proved. Despite a positive start, Oswestry's vulnerability on the lower tables became apparent, and the A team suffered their first league defeat in 2008. However, the match did produce a spectacular win for Oswestry's Simon Hughes. Playing on table two with the black pieces, Hughes met his opponent's opening with the Benko Gambit, and after an early exchange of pawns, took control of the game, with white resigning on the 29th move, having found himself in a hopeless position.
In division three, Oswestry B entertained Telepost C at the Oswestrian, and saw Oswestry B's team captain, Richard Farrall,win his first game of the current campaign. With the advantage of the white pieces, Fan-all opened with the Scotch Game, and eventually check mated his opponent after some clever play in the middle game. Further wins on tables two and five by Steve Tulett and Graham Ives ensured Oswestry won the match, which moved them up to second place in the league
02/10/2008
A GOOD WEEK FOR OSWESTRY
In division one of the Shropshire League, leuan Fenton's season is just getting better and better. Following on from a fine win in week one, sixteen year old Fenton demolished another worthy opponent in only 14 moves, as Oswestry A entertained Shrewsbury A at the Oswestrian. Title chasing Shrewsbury, who boast amongst their players, Philip Makepeace, the former England Under 18 captain, came in for a reality check, as they suffered their first defeat at the hands of a determined Oswestry. Makepeace himself had to settle for a draw against Brian Whyte. Simon Hughes likewise drew on table two, whilst Oswestry club secretary, Keith Grice, won a fine game on table five, this together with Fenton's excellent win meant Oswestry claimed the two points.
In Division Three, Oswestry B's away trip to Shifnal & Telford D, saw Steve Tulett face Shifnal's captain Jamie Beddoes, on table one. Tulett, with the advantage of the white pieces, began with his customary King's Bishop opening, and the game seemed to be heading for a draw until Beddoes made an error in letting the White King in amongst his pawns. Tulett took full advantage and won comfortably. Wins on tables three and four by Alf Evans and Graham Ives, gave Oswestry a valuable win, and rounded off an excellent week for the club.
02/09/2008
Owestry makes a solid start
In division one of the Shropshire League, Oswestry A faced a difficult away match at Coddon in the first round of the 2008/9 season.
wins on board 2 by Ieuan Fenton and board 5 by team captain Gareth Hampson and a draw on board 1 by Simon Hughes, secured a creditable draw. sixteen year old Ieuan had to withstand a very aggressive opening, but he attacked down the Queen's side to secure victory.
Team captain said that it was a very encouraging performance and bodes well for the future.
The newly formed Oswestry B lost 3 games to two against promotion favourites Coddon B.
All games were hard fought , but he match between the 14 year old Coddon Wonder Boy Peter Mellor and veteran chairman of Oswestry Ron Thomson caught the attention of the bystanders,
Thomson who had the advantage of the white pieces, began with his favourite Colle opening, and after a gruelling 3 hour marathon, Mellor finally resigned in a hopeless position.
Report by Kings Gambit.