Worcestershire U-140 Team
Match Result 2009-10 Season

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Worcestershire Draw with Table Leaders Staffs

Match report: from Giles

Worcs played Staffs in a battle for leadership of the table on 12 December at the home venue of Astwood Bank. In this crucial and closely contested match, the 8-8 score was a fair result. Ian Clack starting Worcestershire off with a quick win in a Queen's Pawn Opening. His opponent gave Ian a winning attack by taking with the wrong pawn. There were impressive wins from both juniors: Ashley Davis and James Friar. After a hiccup on boards 11, 12 and 13, another good win from Don Curry restored the balance to 6½ all. Jeff Heath used his wealth of experience to hold for a draw a pawn down. Then Rob Bricknell held for a draw in an interesting game to leave John Varilone our last man standing and the score at 7½ all. John had arrived at a complex position tryIng to avoid book lines playing against a Dutch Defence. The game was hard to assess, but black's king looked vulnerable stuck in the middle of the board. The match looked to be going Staffs way when John allowed his queen to be skewered to his king, but John's raking bishops were menacing. In time pressure his opponent sacked his queen to get rid of them and a draw was agreed. Thus ended a tense match leaving Worcestershire a match early next year against Derbys and a final match against Notts.