Kingston B v Staines A, Thames Valley division 2 match played at the Willoughby Arms, Kingston on 25 March 2024

Staines, missing several players because of illness, brought only half a team to the Willoughby, so we started 3-0 up, which was reassuring. Nick Grey drew with Ye Kyaw on board 1 to ensure victory; newcomer Leon Mellor-Sewell lost with Black to the experienced David Beam; and David Shalom made sure the margin of victory was a comfortable 4.5-1.5 by beating Clive Lawrence after a long struggle when the Staines player went wrong in a drawish endgame.

Kingston B continue to more than hold their own in division 2 of the Thames Valley League and some optimists are even contemplating the possibility of promotion, though Hounslow A and Surbiton B, whom we will face in our two remaining fixtures in this division, will no doubt have other ideas.

Stephen Moss