Disappointing Season Ends With Heavy Defeat – but Signs of Hope on Horizon

Shrewsbury’s ultimately disappointing Shropshire Chess League season ended with a 4-1 home defeat against Newport A.

But despite the heavy loss, there are really hopeful signs for the future.

Will Apted played his first ever competitive game of chess with a clock and scoresheets, and held his own before being beaten by Phil Love on bottom board.

Richard Vernon had probably his strongest game of the campaign, giving rising star Daniel Hilditch-Love one of his toughest games of the season – and those were Dan’s words – before eventually succumbing to defeat.

Francis Best provided the night’s highlight with a nice win over Chris Lewis on board two.

Elsewhere Newport’s Nick Rutter unfortunately got his revenge over Peter Kitchen on top board with a crushing win in just 23 moves. Mark Smith was ground down in an ending by Stuart Ross on board three.

The result means Shrewsbury finish two points adrift at the bottom of the table, with one win, one draw and  six defeats from their eight games.

Knowing they were already consigned to a bottom place finish, Shrewsbury were aiming to restore some pride ahead of the summer break.

But they were without the unavailable Dan Lockett, meaning Apted – who has started attending club nights regularly in recent months but had never played competitively – was drafted in on bottom board.

The evening started badly for the hosts when Kitchen lost to Rutter on top board. Having played the opening 10 moves of an offbeat 3.Bd3 French according to the book, Kitchen then made a fatal slip that allowed an immediate tactic based on Nb5 that saw Rutter win an exchange and a pawn. With his position in ruins and Rutter seeking revenge for his surprise loss in the reverse fixture a month ago, Kitchen did well to last until move 23 before being checkmated.

But Shrewsbury were soon level. Francis Best, playing the white side of an Exchange Caro Kann, made short work of Chris Lewis on board two to equalise.

However, it proved to be a false dawn. Apted fought strongly against Phil Love on bottom board before slipping to defeat. But he said afterwards he had enjoyed the experience and hopefully it will be the first of many appearances in Shrewsbury colours.

Vernon faced possibly the toughest task of the night, moving up to board four to take on the in-form Hilditch-Love. But he kept his opponent at bay for most of the night, and his opponent conceded afterwards that he had been close to offering a draw. Alas, a tactical slip saw Vernon lose material and the game, but he can be rightly proud of his efforts.

On board three, Mark Smith battled hard in a complex middlegame arising from a Ruy Lopez against Stuart Ross. Ross exchanged his dark squared bishop for one of Smith’s knights and then sought to prove that his own knights were stronger.

Ultimately, it was a decision that paid off as Ross converted his edge into a winning endgame to add the final gloss for the visitors.

Full results:

Shrewsbury 1-4 Newport A (Shrewsbury black on odd boards)

1.Peter Kitchen 0-1 Nick Rutter

2.Francis Best 1-0 Chris Lewis

3.Mark Smith 0-1 Stuart Ross

4.Richard Vernon 0-1 Daniel Hilditch-Love 5.Will Apted 0-1 Phil Love