The Draw That Secured Derby B: Rolls Royce A vs Chesterfield A
Derby supporters with an eye on the Division 1 table had more than a passing interest in Thursday night's match between Rolls Royce A and Chesterfield A. A Rolls Royce win would have dashed Derby B's survival hopes — so a draw, while perhaps unremarkable on the surface, was very welcome news indeed.
And what a draw it was. John Tompson was on hand as our roving reporter and described the evening as "an impressive anti-climax" — a phrase that rather undersells the drama that unfolded.
Rolls Royce made the brighter start. On Board 3, Daniel Blumenow dispatched Martin Howard in convincing fashion, and on Board 2 Andrew Robins appeared to be heading for a second point, looking clearly winning at one stage against Peter Ackley. But Robins couldn't convert, and the game petered out to a draw. Chesterfield hit back on Board 4, where John Trafford took the full point to level the match at 2–2.
That left everything resting on Board 1 and the encounter between Andrew Stevens and Hubert Mossong — and it delivered a finish that will linger long in the memory of those who witnessed it. Both players were down to their last few minutes, yet, remarkably, continued to notate throughout. Hubert blundered. Stevens had winning chances — but rather than press for the full point, played out a repetition and accepted the draw. He had, it emerged, no idea that his team needed a win to threaten Derby B's safety. Daniel, it seems, was equally unaware of the wider stakes.
For Derby B the draw was the result they needed. Rolls Royce A remain a point behind them in the table. Division 1 survival is secured.
| Rolls Royce A | 2 - 2 | Chesterfield A | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Stevens, Andrew | 1943 | ½ - ½ | Mossong, Hubert | 2016 |
| 2 | Robins, Andrew | 1854 | ½ - ½ | Ackley, Peter | 2012 |
| 3 | Blumenow, Daniel | 1898 | 1 - 0 | Howard, D Martin | 1986 |
| 4 | Nath, Ranjit | 1753 | 0 - 1 | Trafford, John | 1867 |
And the table as it stands:
| Team | P | W | D | L | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Belper A | 14 | 9 | 4 | 1 | 22 |
| Derby A | 13 | 8 | 4 | 1 | 20 |
| Breadsall | 14 | 6 | 4 | 4 | 16 |
| Burton & Lichfield A | 13 | 6 | 2 | 5 | 14 |
| Chesterfield A | 14 | 3 | 6 | 5 | 12 |
| Derby B | 14 | 4 | 3 | 7 | 11 |
| Rolls Royce A | 14 | 3 | 4 | 7 | 10 |
| Rolls Royce B | 14 | 2 | 1 | 11 | 5 |
Kevin 24/04/26