You are here: Home Archives Ulster Chronicles 2013-2014 season UCU Web 2014 Belfast South trip themselves up

Belfast South trip themselves up

NICS headed off across the city for the Banker's Club to test the mettle of "Kelly's Heroes". Waiting in the bay-window with chess board at the ready was Ray Devenney with Sam Flanagan, camera in hand. This did not look good at all!
Belfast South trip themselves up

Muldoons & NICS at Belfast South

Fortunately it turned out the Belfast South A-Team were entertaining Muldoon's first team. Or at least 4 of them were, fifth board was vacant so Des Moreland had wait it out after travelling over. Sam Flanagan & Danny Malaghan drew surprisingly quickly on board 2. Boards 1, Ray Devenney vs Gareth Annesley, & 3, Bruce McLean vs Nick Pilkiewiz,  flowed the same way but at a slower pace. Board 4, Stephen Wood launched a serious assault against Graeme McCormick down the centre with a pair of Rooks backed by a Bishop & Knight pair. But the Rooks could not deal the fatal blow. With the other two pieces too far away now to offer assistance, the attack fizzled out, reduced to pinging pawns. Graeme was able to recover, getting his own Rooks in to play and another draw resulted. Muldoons  win the match 3-2 with the forfeit board 5.

NICS boards 2 & 3The Division 2 match overflowed the main playing room with board 1 John McKenna defending against Mark Newman relegated to the main bar. Again there was no board 5 from the BSers leaving Pete Storey to join Des in the bar, eventually heading home disappointed and not a little aggrieved with getting no game after rushing back from down the country.

On board 2, Alan Burns defended against Neil Green and when Neil launched a major attack down the c-file it looked as if Alan's Queen was a goner. Alan is made of sterner stuff and not only survived the onslaught but, like last week, had squirrelled a troop of pawns up the King-side posing a serious threat to Neil who was now under time pressure. With most of the pieces still in play, the complexities just gobbled up the remaining time and Neil's clock ran out to give Alan the game.Board 4: George Jackson vs Adrian Donford-Smith

On board 3 Drew Ferguson was getting the better of Martin Kelly shaping up for a convincing direct attack on Martin's King. But a loose move left Drew's Queen exposed forcing the loss of a Knight. Despite a valiant attempt to force through a pawn to promotion, Martin was able to claim the game. Adrian Donford-Smith suffered a similar fate against George Jackson. Adrian dropped a pawn early on which George was able to exploit into the end-game.

NICS hopes to salvage some points were on final board Mark Newman who had John McKenna under the cosh with a back-rank mate threatening. With only White's Rook Bishop against Blacks Rook Knight, a lot of posturing as the foursome danced around each other letting John give  his King some breathing spaceBoard 1: Mark Newman vs John McKenna but at the cost of letting Mark advance an extra pawn to the 7th rank. Eventually John was forced into trading down and with only a few minutes left, conceded the game. Phew, NICS claimed the match to maintain a clean sheet in their Division 3 campaign. Next match against Bangor in two weeks will likely be a reality check for them.

A lot of gurning after the match though over Belfast South's insistence that players travel even though the club knew they could not field a full team for either fixture. And indeed, rather odd that the Division 1 fixture was a board shy when the BSers had players to put up a second squad. Rumours are that questions will be asked in the House with the barrack-room lawyers sharpening their pencils from both Muldoon's and NICS. With two adjudications already featuring the host club, we wonder if the BSers need to consider a renaming.

Navigation
News
Owen Wilson awarded Honorary Membership of Bangor Club on 28th Sept 2023 On Thursday 28th September 2023, on the 20th anniversary of first playing for the club in autumn 2003, it was with great... Sep 29, 2023
ECF National Club Championship An opportunity for UCU League Clubs to enter a prestige tournament in England Sep 27, 2023
Walter Wilson awarded ‘Special Lifetime Membership’ of Bangor Chess Club. Bangor Chess Club celebrates one of its much loved members Walter Wilson with a "Special Lifetime Membership Award" Sep 24, 2023
FIDE Rated City of Bangor Congress 23 Sept 2023 Bangor Chess Club continues to deliver top tournaments and brilliant opportunities to play chess. Brendan Jamison report... Sep 24, 2023
ECF : Online School Chess Events 2023/24 Information from the ECF on Online School Chess Events 2023/24 Sep 23, 2023
More news…
« October 2023 »
October
SuMoTuWeThFrSa
1234567
891011121314
15161718192021
22232425262728
293031
Upcoming Events
FIDE Rated Groomsport Blitz Championship 2023 Oct 05, 2023 07:30 PM - 10:15 PM — Church of Ireland Parish Hall, 30 Main Street, Groomsport, County Down, BT19 6JR, Northern Ireland
LJCC - Belfast Qualifier 2023: 7th October An opportunity for Primary Students to Qualify for the London Junior Chess Championships and for Secondary pupils to enj... Oct 07, 2023 09:15 AM - 05:00 PM — Methodist College,1 Malone Rd, Belfast BT9 6BY
FIDE-RATED Belfast City Royal Avenue Rapid Championship 2023 Event 4 of 10 in the FIDE rated NI Rapid Grand Prix 2023/2024 Oct 14, 2023 10:30 AM - 05:00 PM — 2 Royal Avenue
Ladies Day #1 at QUB Returning for another season, we are once again ready to host Ladies Day at QUB Chess. Oct 15, 2023 01:00 PM - 04:00 PM — Drawing Room, QUB Students' Union, 1 Elmwood Avenue, Belfast, BT9 6AZ
FIDE-RATED City of Bangor Autumn Rapid 2023 Oct 19, 2023 07:30 PM - 10:30 PM — Church of Ireland Parish Hall, Groomsport
Upcoming events…