With WNA, WN2 and WN4 all playing on the same night, and many key players not available, the three captains spent last week trying to sort out the best way to distribute the various personnel. WN4 got priority – as leaders of Division 4, facing the third-placed team (Grantham 2), they had most need of a strong performance. As it turned out, Grantham were a player short, but they also had a genuine first division player on top board. Boards 1 and 5 balanced out and the other three games were drawn, keeping Grantham at bay in the race for promotion.

WN2 had the next claim on players as they fought to secure safety from relegation. Mansfield 2 and Radcliffe & Bingham 1 seem certain to go down, but the sooner WN2 are fully clear, the better. Predeep won the critical game, offsetting a loss on Board 1 and gaining another 2½–2½ draw.

WNA went to Chesterfield with the three regulars (Julien, David and me), but with only Tracey to fill Board 4 – probably a step too far. We faced exactly the same set of players who beat us 4–0 in the opening fixture, but Julien clearly strengthened the side. Tracey lost, but David won very nicely, leaving Julien and me to try to claim the points. I failed to make anything of a tiny endgame advantage, but Julien's position was so unclear that I couldn't take the draw that was on offer. Of course, this led to a blunder in the time scramble, but fortunately my opponent reciprocated and the draw was achieved. Julien by this time had won a piece, but had only seconds left – the draw offer, from an opponent almost as short of time, had to be taken. Still, a 2–2 draw was more than satisfactory against the champions.