Hillmorton strong in ’Press’ chess

Press, 27 July 1976, Page 30

Hillmorton strong in ’Press’ chess

Hillmorton High School, proved that it was a team not to be underestimated and I worthy of a place in th» final j play-off when it drew i’s deferred match against the unbeaten Christchurch Bmrs’ High School in the last pre- ( liminarv round of The Press” chess teams’ compe-, tition Christchurch was assured! of a place in the final for the j sixth successive ’.'ear. hut I Hillmorton. which had two] matches to complete last] week, needed to win at least I nne to clinch a position m the final. A depleted Christchurch team was ahead 2J-1’ wi’h two matche-. to he adiudi- • rated Hillmorton drew level when its No. 6 plavers gained ‘ the decision >n the bottom . board, and the match be- I tvs Mark Letter (Hillmorton) and Warwick Norton was ruled a draw. The game was destined for, a comp’"X ending, both plav-' ers having four pawns and) a bishop on the same colour However. Hillmorton kent ■ its unbeaten record intact fit, had two draws) when it beat! Riccarton. 5-1. Robert Carl-, son, the too olaver for Ric-I carton, scored his side’s lone) success. It was Carlson’s t fourth win in the tournament, but his team did not have] enough strong players on the; lower boards to complement! his contribution. St Andrew's, which finished third in zone two.! struck resolute opposition 1 from Pananui. which was ati l full strength for the first]! time, and the College team! l only won after »n adjudicated match went in its favour. ■ Warren Mercer p'aved a sound game to inflict the; 1 first loss on the St Andrew’s! captain. David Comwe'l. on board four, and Peter Golds-, borough scored his second win from as manv games for. Pananui on hoard six. St Andrew's was especially] strong in the top four posi-; tions Richard Johnston, who, was runner-un in the Can- ■ terburv schoolpupil®’ cham-1 pionship in May, had five. wins and a draw on the topi hoard; Hamish Rennie, on' board two. had four wins and ■. one draw: Moss Wvlie scored five wins from six matches., and Cornwell lost onlv his[ last match. The plav-off in both grades: begins this week, and the! draw is: A grade.—Shirlev v Hillmorton at Hillmorton; Christchurch B.H.S. v. Christ’s College at College. B grade—-St Andrew’s Bi v Heaton Intermediate at St; Andrew’s: Linwood High, School v. Christ’s College B at Linwood. Results of the last preliminary round were:—Hillmorton 5. Riccarton 1: Christchurch B.H.S. 3. Hillmorton 3; St Andrew’s 31, Papanui 21 ” Final placmgs in zone 11 of the A grade (individual matches won shown in parentheses) were - — Christchurch B.H.S. 5! (27!). Hillmorton 5 (24), St Andrew’s 4 (22J). Bumside B 3} (19!). Ashburton 11 (141). Papanui 1 (10). Riccarton 1 (8).