Shirley puts pressure on chess rivals

Press, 23 September 1987, Page 50

Shirley puts pressure on chess rivals

Shirley Boys’ High School probably clinched the fourth spot in the final play-offs for “The Press" schools’ A-grade chess title with a 4-2 victory against St Thomas’s in its last preliminary contest After a slow start to the round-robin, Shirley, which has not been out of the top four since 1978, finished with a solid burst The onus is now on Christ’s College, which is a half-point behind Shirley, to beat the title-holder, Christchurch Boys’ in the final round-robin contest Burnside, back in the top half after slipping from the first four last year, Christchurch Boys’ and Ashburton are assured of positions in the final, but the two teams to contest the play-off for first and second will not be known until all deferred matches

have been completed. In the B grade, Christchurch Boys’ B has to do no worse than a draw in its final contest against Shirley C to qualify ahead of Cashmere in zone one, while Ashburton B’s 4%-l% win against Christ’s College B has assured it of being the top qualifier from zone two. The two zone winners will play off for the B-grade championship. The C-grade (intermediate schools) final will be between Kirkwood and Heaton, which had an adjudicated game go in its favour against Cathedral Grammar. Had the decision gone the other way. Cathedral Grammar would have qualified instead of the title holder. Results:— A grade.— Shirley B.HS. 4, St Thomas’s 2.

B grade.— Burnside B 6, Shirley B.H.S. C 0; Christchurch B.HJS. B 5, St Bede’s I; Ashburton B 4%, Christ’s College B 1& Cashmere 5, St Thomas’s B 1. C grade.— Heaton 3, Cathedral Grammar 3. Points. — A grade.— Burnside 4 (21%), Christchurch B.H.S. 3 (19), Ashburton 3 (12), Shirley 8.H3. 2% (15), Christ’s College 2 (12), St Andrew’s 1% (9%). St Thomas’s 0 (7). 'Deferred games: Ashburton v. St Thomas’s; Ashburton v. St Andrew’s; Burnside v. St Andrew’s; Burnside v. Christchurch 8.H.5.; Christchurch B.H.S. v. Christ’s College. B grade.— Zone I: Christchurch 8.H5. B 5 (24), Cashmere 5 (27), Papanui 4 (23%). Burnside B 2 (17), Shirley B.H.S. C 2 (12%), St

Bede’s 1(7%), St Thomas's B 0 (2%). Deferred gain® ~~- Burnside B v. St ThomasX ‘ ■ Christchurch B.HS. B v. Shirley B.H.S. a Zone II: Ashbur- » ton B 4% (20), Shiriey B 3 (15), Christ’s College 8.2% (14%), Christchurch BJLS. C 1 (9), Hornby 0 (4). St Andrew’s B 0 (3%). Deferred games: Christchurch C v. Hornby; Christchurch C v. St Andrew’s B; Hornby v. St Andrew’s B; St Andrew’s B v Shirley B. C grade (final points).— Zone t Heaton 4% (22), Cathedra] Grammer 3% (21), Linwood 3 (15%). Medbury 2 (13). St Michael’s 1 (10%), Christchurch South 1 (8). Zone II: Kirkwood 4 (16), Cobham 3 (16%), Chisnallwood 2 (12), St Andrew’s Preparatory I (10%), St Patrick’s 0 (5).