Played: 12; Won: 6; Drew: 6; Lost: 0 – Essex League Division 3 Champions
A team drawn exclusively from our Junior Club was pitched into the Essex League, Division 3, as Wanstead IV; in this Division there are five players a side in each match. The featured photo above shows those players who formed the main team, while the photo further down the page includes players who played additional boards, which we did against Loughton, Ilford and Thurrock. (The additional boards don’t count towards the team’s record in the League competition, but they give match experience to other players.)
In Division III there were seven teams, who played each other twice, home and away. There are some pretty experienced players out there and 12 matches is long haul, not a sprint. Teams score two Match Points for a match win, one Match Point a draw, nothing for a loss.
Wanstead IV started very steadily; very, very, steadily. First up was a draw 2½-2½ with Ilford II, on an autumn Monday evening, Wanstead giving an average 300 rating points a board, which was a good start. This was backed up by further draws against Southend II away, Barking II at Home and Upminster III Away – all drawn 2½-2½, putting the team in third place.
Then came the home fixture against Loughton II, headed by Simon Moth 1818, Martin van Tol 1789 and Graham Kershaw 1712, all highly experienced League players. On average, Wanstead IV gave Loughton 206 points a board. Winning the top two boards and the bottom board, Wanstead IV recorded their first outright win. That’s some start, four solid draws and a win.
The return fixture against Ilford II dropped back onto solid ground: another 2½-2½ draw. Then another win, at home to Upminster III, had followers of this project beginning to believe. Five matches to go: could they keep up this record?
The return match against Loughton II was next and Loughton had a matter of pride to right, having been Wanstead IV’s first victims. Loughton were still the stronger team on paper, Average ratings 1580 v 1496, but by now the still-undefeated Wanstead IV had the steel of confidence. Loughton II were routed, 4-1.
Thurrock I were next, who can always be relied upon to give you a fight, but now Wanstead IV were looking invincible. Two wins and two draws for a 3-2 victory kept the ship on course. Three matches to go, top of the table; just need to bring it home.
Another draw away to Barking was all that was needed and Wanstead IV had secured the Division 3 Championship on tie-break, with two matches in hand. And what a close finish to the season, with Upminster III, Barking II and Ilford II all in the frame. Southend II at Home and Thurrock I Away to finish the job and win the division outright; just one point would be sufficient (two Match Points for a win, one for a draw), yet after a marathon of 7 months, could they go the whole way without defeat?
Southend II came to Wanstead on 21 May and for a while posed a real threat. Then, from the point where Ashwin GK defended a K & P ending like a veteran, when it looked good for a Southend win, The Invincibles, really did look invincible, running out 3-2 victors and winning the Division 3 Championship outright.
Just the Away trip to Thurrock to go. The Invincibles finished in style, winning 3½-1½ without losing a board – two wins and three draws to cap an amazing campaign: 6 wins, 6 draws, 0 defeats. Invincible!
Wanstead IV finished on 18 points from their 12 matches, without defeat, four points ahead of Upminster III, Barking II and Ilford II each on 14 points. After their steady start with four drawn matches, The Invincibles’ remaining matches included six wins with just two more draws.
Many congratulations to the squad and to the hard slog put in by Ben Harte getting them where they had to go and for whom the outcome is the best possible reward.
Links: EL4 page | EL Div III League table