This week witnessed our two final Surrey matches of the season: two matches, ten boards and 9½ points.

Unfortunately, Wallington were unable to raise a team for our Ellery Williams Trophy match, so we won 4-0 by default. We had two new members, Manuel and Arash, lined up to play, but we were able to provide rated games for them.

Behind the partition, our Ellam Trophy (Division 3) team were facing our first visitors to the Bowls Club, Coulsdon 2, needing a victory to win the division and our third trophy of the season, following the successes of our Thames Valley C and E teams.

Captain Alastair had managed to recruit a team so strong that he was able to rest himself. It was great to welcome back former star Chris White after six years living abroad, along with new member Adrian Cronan.

We outrated our opponents, so were hopeful of the desired result, but really didn’t anticipate what was going to happen.

It was very nearly 6-0 as well, with Raghu missing a subtle win in a KP v KP ending right at the close of play.

Here’s the Board 3 game. Click on any move for a pop-up window.

Chris added:

Featuring my all beginners moves in the opening 😂.

Step 1: give up my best minor piece.
Step 2: play… h5-h4-h3 by move 10.
Step 3: play… Kd8 before developing other pieces.
Step 4: play … a5 so we can bring out the other R to a6.
Step: 5 play …f6 and… g5 before developing the N on g8

After 17…g5 White has no constructive moves, so luckily none of my subsequent bad moves mattered 😂

Here’s the league table with our team finishing proudly at the top.

Congratulations to Alastair, and to everyone who represented our team during the season. We’re looking forward to taking on stronger opposition in the Beaumont Cup (Division 2) next season.