B team takes centre stage for start of league season

Richard Vernon and his Shrewsbury B side will lead the club into the new Shropshire Chess League season when they host Telford C on Wednesday.

The division three encounter at Cromwell’s Tap House will be the club’s first foray into league action of the campaign – one where it is hoped the club will be able to blood some new faces and welcome some new arrivals, writes Peter Kitchen.

The B team will then face a double header against Newport sides, hosting Newport B on October 2 before travelling to face Newport Junior B six days later.

Shrewsbury A must wait until October 3 to start their division one campaign, when they will travel to Maddocks A before making the short journey down Wyle Cup for the first county town derby of the season away to Telepost A the following week as part of a busy month that includes four fixtures.

The As will also face the new Darwinian Knights club’s A team in the top flight, hosting them on October 23 before travelling to Salop Unison Club on February 25. Telepost A will visit Cromwell’s on March 5 – and the As have only one home fixture before Christmas.

Shrewsbury B will unusually not face any Telepost sides this season after the club’s split with Darwinian Knights means Telepost will just field one league side this season. But the Bs will face both Darwinian Knights C and Darwinian Knights Junior over the course of the season.

Captains have already started contacting players about the first few fixtures, and players are asked to make their availability known. It is also hoped a newsletter will be sent out before the end of the month which will include a reminder of monthly fixtures well in advance.

Fixtures for the rapidplay and online leagues are expected to be released in due course.

Shrewsbury A fixtures (division one):

October 3: Maddocks A (a)

October 9: Telepost A (a)

October 23: Darwinian Knights A (h)

October 31: Oswestry A (a)

November 20: Telford A (a)

January 22: Newport A (h)

February 19: Maddocks A (h)

February 25: Darwinian Knights A (a)

March 5: Telepost A (h)

April 2: Oswestry A (h)

April 9: Telford A (h)

April 29: Newport A (a)

Shrewsbury B fixtures (division three):

September 18: Telford C (h)

October 2: Newport B (h)

October 8: Newport Junior B (a)

October 30: Darwinian Knights C (h)

January 28: Darwinian Knights Junior (h – to be played at Darwinian)

February 5: Telford C (a)

March 4: Newport B (a)

March 18: Newport Junior B (h – to be played at Newport)

April 15: Darwinian Knights C (a)

April 22: Darwinian Knights Junior (a)