Chess

Practices this term have followed the usual pattern, and once again it has not been possible to meet the demand for training. This remained true in spite of the fact that additional time was available each week through the assistance of Mr. Webster, for whose help we are very grateful.

A number of postal matches have been fired, and two curious features emerged. One was the remarkable consistency of scores, with repetitions in successive matches, though there was one exception, a remarkably low score against Leeds Grammar School—an interesting example of how a good team can collapse, apparently inexplicably. The other curious feature was the sudden, and permanent, improvement in the latter part of term. This coincided with the arrival of a new batch of ammunition and gives rise to the suspicion that the old issue, which we knew to be bad, had in fact been handicapping us by two points per man on average.

There were at least eleven candidates for the first VIII, and the decision for the "Country Life" team had to be made more on current form than on averages. While this is a sign of a very healthy state of affairs in the Club, it makes the selectors' task a difficult one, and raises the question whether the award of minor colours to the team for one particular match is in fact the right procedure.

A summary of postal match results is given below. The "Country Life" scores are only an estimate, as the official scores will not come till May, but it seems likely that both teams will have higher scores on the group, snap, rapid total than any of their predecessors have had under the existing rules. The poor showing of the First VIII on the "Landscape" is therefore particularly disappointing. In fact, we devoted more time and trouble to this practice than ever before, and our two "leaders", Lord and Gibson, were amongst the best we have had. But it is a practice very open to chance results, and our luck was not in.

Minor colours were awarded to the "Country Life" First VIII : Baker (Capt.), Wasden (Vice-Capt.), Lightfoot, Black (all these reawards), Humpherson, Shubrook, Hart and Groundwater. The "official" Second VIII was : Poynor, Lavender, Starkey, Platts, Marsay, Yeadon, Shannon and M. W. Territt.

FIRST VIII. Leeds Grammar School 751—St. Peter's 702. Lost. Mill Hill School 746—St. Peter's 739. Lost. Welbeck College 732—St. Peter's 739. Won. Worksop College 742—St. Peter's 759. Won. King's College School 756—St. Peter's 759. Won. St. Bartholomew's Grammar School 670—St. Peter's 759. Won. Merchiston Castle School 770—St. Peter's 765. Lost. SECOND VIII. Merchiston Castle School 716—St. Peter's 710. Lost. Estimates of "Country Life" scores are : 1st VIII :—Group 160, Rapid 382, Snap 223. Total 765. Landscape 139. Grand Total 904. 2nd VIII :—Group 145, Rapid 376, Snap 223. Total 744. Landscape 154. Grand Total 898.

A return match v. 150 Inf. Bde. H.Q. was fired at the Stonebow Range under N.S.R.A. conditions, and resulted in a win for School, 734 to 719. 37