You are here: Home Archives Ulster Chronicles 2013-2014 season UCU Web 2014 Ballynafeigh 2 vs Fruithill

Ballynafeigh 2 vs Fruithill

After whitewashing Ballynafeigh 3 last week, could Ballynafeigh 2 build on that result against stiffer opposition?
Ballynafeigh 2 vs Fruithill

Mike Redman on his way to victory over Fruithill's Ciaran Marron

After four consecutive defeats, Ballynafeigh 2 finally kick-started their season in Week 5 with a 5-0 win over the mighty... Ballynafeigh 3. With renewed confidence, they welcomed Fruithill, who earlier in the season had whitewashed Ballynafeigh 3 and then gave Ballynafeigh 1 an almighty scare until Ciaran Marron blew a won position against David Houston. They would most assuredly pose some problems for Ballynafeigh 2... or would they?

While they have tended to field under-strength teams away from home this season, they brought a stronger team than they did against Ballynafeigh 1; Marron, Fisher, Robinson, Louis Holmes and Charlie Logan. Ballynafeigh 2 went with their usual quintet, albeit in a slightly changed order; Redman, Jamison, Rush, Cunningham and Robert Lavery.

It was Damien Cunningham who drew first blood for Ballynafeigh 2, seeing off Louis Holmes in a double-edged encounter on board 4; some of the variations analysed in the post-mortem were hair-raising to say the least. Board 5 was the next to go, after Robert Lavery overwhelmed Charlie Logan on the kingside. A few minutes later, Brendan Jamison sealed the win for Ballynafeigh 2 with victory over Neil Fisher. Could another whitewash be on the cards?

In the only game of this match not to begin with a Sicilian Defence, John Robinson faced Stephen Rush. With the black pieces, Rush played a Nimzo-Indian and saddled Robinson with doubled c-pawns, which proved to be sitting ducks in the endgame. Four-nil.

It was left to Ciaran Marron on top board to salvage some pride for Fruithill, but after failing to demonstrate compensation for the pawn in the somewhat dubious Wing Gambit against the Sicilian Defence he faced an uphill struggle against the Ulster Champion Mike Redman, whose passed a-pawn caused serious problems. While he eventually managed to eliminate the advanced pawn, by that point Redman was on the verge of crashing through on the kingside and securing a second consecutive whitewash for Ballynafeigh 2.

Alongside this match, there was the likely wooden spoon decider between Ballynafeigh 3 and NICS which the latter won 4-1, but that 1 represented an important milestone for Ballynafeigh 3 as they won their first game - take a bow, Paddy Magee!

Next week sees the third Ballynafeigh derby of the season as Ballynafeigh 1 play Ballynafeigh 2. Suffice to say, this promises to be a somewhat closer contest.

Navigation
News
Childrens Chess Grandprix Standings after February 2024 Tournament. We celebrate young chess talent at the end of year Award Ceremony and Elite Chess tournament. Usually held at Stormont i... Mar 03, 2024
March 2024 FIDE NI Rating Report – 14 players make a debut by FIDE National Arbiter Brendan Jamison Well done to 14 more players gaining a FIDE rating on the 1st March rating list. The season is almost over but we have o... Mar 02, 2024
Lisburn Chess Club organises WIM Tijana Mandura coaching opportunity! Message from Lisburn Chess Club: Tuition Opportunity Feb 22, 2024
February Schools Chess at Methodist College The UCU's monthly Schools tournaments continued on 10th February 2024 with 37 entrants and some top chess and brilliant ... Feb 22, 2024
Knockagh Monument Rapid Places Still Available Feb 22, 2024
More news…
« March 2024 »
March
SuMoTuWeThFrSa
12
3456789
10111213141516
17181920212223
24252627282930
31
Upcoming Events
FIDE-RATED Bangor Spring Rapid Championship 2024 Mar 21, 2024 07:30 PM - 10:30 PM — Church of Ireland Parish Hall, 30 Main Street, Groomsport, County Down, BT19 6JR
FIDE rated Ulster Rapidplay 2024 Apr 06, 2024 09:30 AM - 04:30 PM — Church of Ireland Parish Hall, 30 Main Street, Groomsport, County Down, BT19 6JR, Northern Ireland
Ulster Fischer Random Rapidplay Championship 2024 7 rounds of Fischer Random Chess, Sunday 7th April at the Civil Service Pavilion. Apr 07, 2024 10:30 AM - 06:00 PM — NICS,Maynard Sinclair Pavilion, Stormont, Upper Newtownards Road, Belfast, BT4 3TA
FIDE 100th Anniversary Groomsport Classic 2024 (Round 1) Apr 11, 2024 07:30 PM - 10:30 PM — Church of Ireland Parish Hall, 30 Main Street, Groomsport, County Down, BT19 6JR, Northern Ireland
Newman Hindley Series : Childrens Chess Fun afternoon with a chess tournament and puzzle competition. Apr 13, 2024 12:15 PM - 05:00 PM — Methodist College,1 Malone Rd, Belfast BT9 6BY
Upcoming events…