Bees sting the A Team

For the Final of the Essex Knockout, an all-Wanstead affair, Paul Barclay encountered difficulties assembling his team, with the top four of his registered players unavailable. Having arranged the date particularly for John Hodgson, it was particularly unfortunate that John went down with flu.

No such problems for the B Team who were well-represented on all boards and enjoyed a grading advantage of an average 10 points a board. The A Team felt the full force of this advantage in Round 1 as the ‘B’s stung the A Team to the tune of 4-1. That one point was the only win that the A Team managed as The Bees won R2 by 3½-1½ without loss for a thumping 7½-2½ victory, a thoroughly well-deserved reward for a well-fought campaign; congratulations to the squad and skipper Mark Murrell.

Whatever the internal rivalry, the Club is the winner completing a unique treble: League, Team Blitz and Rapid Knockout in one season; no other Club has achieved this treble.