Ashburton qualifies for play-offs

Press, 23 July 1986, Page 27

Ashburton qualifies for play-offs

Ashburton achieved its best result in 14 years of competition in “The Press” schools’ chess tournament when it qualified for the A grade round-robin play-off over the next three weeks. Ashburton clinched a place in the top four when it beat Burnside, 3*4-2*4, in a vital fifth-round contest. It is the first time since 1981 that Bumside has failed to qualify for the final. All of Ashburton’s points came on the last four boards where Robert Lynn, on board four, gained his fourth win, and Howard Grazier retained his unbeaten record on board six. Andrew Lister was successful on the third board and the No. 1 player, David Bean, secured a half. Christ’s College completed its preliminary programme with an impressive 4-2 victory over Shirley, and it will join Ashburton, Shirley and Christchurch Boys’ in the final. The B grade final is shaping up between Aranui from zone one, and either Cashmere or Shirley C from zone two. Cashmere and Shirley have yet to meet. Cobham A needs to beat Cathedral Grammar to win zone one of the C grade, but the section two competition is still very open. By holding Burnside to a draw in the girls’ grade, St Margaret's B has left that grade very even. In the final preliminary match, Burnside will have to win at least three games and draw the other to qualify for the final. Christchurch Girls’ is assured of one place and last year’s winner, St Margaret’s A, might sneak in ahead of Bumside for the other. Jocelyn Rout has been unbeaten on board one for Bumside as has Sonja Elcock for Rang! Ruru. The best record, however, belongs to Nicola Manttan, who has had four straight wins on board two for Christchurch Girls’. Fifth-round results:—

A grade.— Ashburton 3y 2 , Burnside 2*4; Christ’s College A 4, Shirley A 2; Christchurch

B.H.S. A 5, Christ's College A 1. B grade.— Zone I: Aranui 4, Burnside B 2; Shirley B 3J4, Christchurch B.H.S. C 2y 3 . Zone II: Shirley C 4, Christchurch B.H.S. B 2; Cashmere 5, Hornby 10. C grade.— Zone I: Linwood Cathedral Grammar 2*4; Cobham A 4, St Michael’s 2; St Andrew’s Prep. 6, Casebrook 0; Linwood 4, St Michael’s 2. Zone II: Branston 41/4, North New Brighton I*4; Kirkwood 4, Chisnallwood 2. Girls’ grade.— Christchurch G.H.S. 2, Rangi Ruru 2; Bumside 2, St Margaret’s B 2. Points: — A grade.— Ashburton 3 (17*4), Christ’s College A 3 (15*4), Christchurch B.H.S. A 3 (14), Shirley A 2& (14), Bumside I*4 St Bede’s O (3*4). Christchurch has two deferred games, Shirley and St Bede’s one each. Next week’s draw: C.B.H.S. v. Ashburton at C.8.H.5.; Christ’s College v. Shirley. B grade.— Zone I: Aranui 4 (21), Mairehau 2 (9), St Thomas’s 2 (8), Christchurch B.H.S. C 1 (9*4), Bumside B 1 (8), Shirley B 1 (6*4), Linwood 0 (4). Zone II: Cashmere 4 (18), Shirley C 3/ 2 (15*4), Christ’s College B I*4 (9), St Andrew’s I Papanui *4 (7), Christchurch B.H.S. B *4 (6), Hornby 0 (3). C grade,— Zone I: Cobham A 4 (18), Linwood 4 Christchurch South 2 (16), Cathedral Grammar 2 (13*4), St Michael’s 1 (11), St Andrew’s Prep. 1 (9), Casebrook 0 (0). Cobham and Cathedral Grammar have a deferred match. Zone II: Branston 3y 2 (17), Kirkwood 3*4 (17), Heaton 2*4 (11), Chisnallwood 2 (12*4), Cobham B I>4 (10), St Thomas’s 1 (B*4), North New Brighton 0 (7*4). Heaton and St Thomas’s have a. deferred match. Girls’ grade.— Christ- ’ church Girls’ 2*4 (10), St. Margaret’s A 2*4 <9*4), Bumside I*4 (6), St Margaret’s B 1y 2 (5*4). Rang! Ruru 1 (5). Burnside and Rangi Ruru have a deferred match.