‘Press’ chess keenly contested

Press, 18 July 1979, Page 40

‘Press’ chess keenly contested

An intriguing situation has developed in finding the zone two winner in the B grade of “The Press” schools’ chess teams’ competition. The zone has been keenly contested throughout and a surprising number of draws have indicated the evenness of the six sides in the zone. Lincoln was in the best position to win the zone, but it lost to Middleton Grange, which was back to full strength, in the final preliminary round, and Mairehau, helped by a default win on the bottom board against Hillmorton, managed to draw with that school. It was Mairehau’s third draw from the five rounds

and those points added to its two wins gave it three and a half points with 18| individual matches won. A deferred match between Lincoln and St Andrew’s B will be played this week and the result will decide the school to qualify for the play-off with the zone one winner. Lincoln has to beat an improved St Andrew’s team, 5-1, in their encounter to qualify on a count-back of individual games. Should Lincoln win 4J-IJ, it will tie with Mairehau. As Mairehau and Lincoln drew their contest, the winner, should it be necessary, will be decided on the toss of a coin. Papanui’s draw against

Darfield has made St ndrew’s A the favourite in zone one, although neither Shirley B nor Darfield can be discounted, Darfield has to meet both St Andrew’s A and Shirley B in the final two preliminary rounds. In the A grade, the two Christchurch Boys’ teams and Shirley moved towards a place in the round-robin final. Christ’s College A and Linwood are fighting for the fourth position Fifth round results:— A grade.—Shirley 6. Burnside 0; Christchurch A 4, Christ’s College A 2; Christchurch B 6, Cashmere 0. B grade.—Zone I: Shirley B 5, Christchurch C 1; Papanui 3, Darfield 3; Ashburton 4£, Christ’s College B 11,.I 1 ,. B grade.—Zone II: St Andrew’s B 6. Southbridge 0; Middleton

Grange 4, Lincoln 2; Mairehau 3, Hlllmorton 3. C grade.—Casebrook 3. Heaton 3; Linwood 5, Avonside 1; Rangi Ruru 5, St Margaret’s 1; Cobham 5, Xavier 1. Points:— A grade.—Christchurch A 5 (22) Christchurch B 4 (18), Shirley 3 (22), Christ’s College A 2 (14), Linwood 1 (91), Burnside 0 (3), Cashmere 0 (1J). B grade.—Zone I: St Andrew’s A 4 (20), Shirlev 4 (20), Darfield 2) (111), Papaniii 2J (11J). Ashburton 2 (121), Christchurch C 2 (121) Burnside B 0 (7), Christ’s College B 0 (5). B grade.—Zone II: Mairehau 31 (181), Hlllmorton (15), Middleton Grange 21 (161), Lincoln 21 (14), St Andrew’s B 2 (13), Southbridge 1 (7). Lincoln and St Andrew’s have a deferred game. C grade.—Cobham 5 (251), Casebrook 4 (211). Heaton 31 (23). Linwood 2 (15), Rangi Ruru 2 (111), Avonside G.H.S. 2 (9J), Xavier 1J (111), St Margaret’s 0 (23)