A catchup to summarise the results of the first team up to Christmas as I've been remiss in my reporting...
We faced Brighton 1 earlier in the season than usual - the normal close match, and as has become common in recent years, a win for the home team. Gavin looked well-placed against Rhys on board 1 but couldn't find the decisive move. Mike seemed under pressure against Simon but held it. I was passive against Geoffrey but also held. Dix and John had their usual Sicilian draw! Only on board 5 was the tie broken, Peter missing a mate and allowing Callum to break through on the kingside.
R. Cumming 1/2-1/2 G.R. Lock
S. Wilks 1/2-1/2 M.C. Forster
G.H. James 1/2-1/2 A.R.J. Higgs
J.C. Henshaw 1/2-1/2 D.N. Roberts
C.D. Brewer 1-0 P. Harbott
3-2 to Brighton.
Next up we hosted Eastbourne 1 and recorded a comfortable win. Gavin turned a symmetrical position against Rasa into an endgame win. Mike and Oli drew after a very sharp Sicilian with typical opposite wing attacks. James beat Adrian in an unusual game with all sorts of creative pawn structures. I offered a pawn against Mick which was refused, I was then able to tighten the positional screw and advance a dangerous a-pawn to victory. Dix beat Matthew after winning a crucial queenside pawn.
G.R. Lock 1-0 R. Norinkeviciute
M.C. Forster 1/2-1/2 O. Froom
J.C. Mansson 1-0 A.O. Pickersgill
A.R.J. Higgs 1-0 M.J. Reddie
D.N. Roberts 1-0 M. Pannett
4.5-0.5 to Horsham.
Finally we welcomed Crowborough 1 to London Road and held the evenly rated boards despite the absence of Mike and Dix whilst winning lower down. Gavin and Peter had what looked like some fairly complex manoeuvring before agreeing the draw. James and David had a very sharp game with both kings getting into trouble, eventually being adjourned and agreed as a draw. Amardip and I had a fairly uneventful series of exchanges ending in another draw. Phil launched a dangerous kingside attack against Gary which won material and eventually broke through for the win. Peter also attacked on the kingside against Don and won with the help of some monster knights.
G.R. Lock 1/2-1/2 P.D. Kemp
J.C. Mansson 1/2-1/2 D.W. Fryer
A.R.J. Higgs 1/2-1/2 A. Ahluwalia
P.M. Stimpson 1-0 G. McCulloch
P. Harbott 1-0 D.P. Grant
3.5-1.5 to Horsham.
That recaps up to Christmas, we have since played Woodpushers 1 as well but one game is adjourned so the report will follow when resolved.