Derby C drew 2–2 at home to promotion favourites Rolls Royce B in Division 2, their first points of the season. Draws for Stuart and Matt and a queen blunder by Shah’s opponent did the damage after a difficult night on board one.

Derby C went down 3–1 at home to promotion favourites Belper B in Division 2, with the match decided before Stuart's late win on board two. Stuart's pawn sacrifice and back-rank mating finish was the highlight of a tough night for the home side.

Derby C began their Division 2 campaign with a narrow 1½–2½ defeat away at Burton & Lichfield C, despite starting as the stronger side on paper. Stuart's well-supported h-pawn win and a hard-fought draw on board one were not enough, with the decisive game lost to a missed knight fork in time trouble.