Northumbria League leaders stumble

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(Newcastle Chronicle, 14 February 2025)

The Northumbria League is heating up, with leading teams losing key matches and allowing their nearest rivals to catch up.


Division 1 leaders Gosforth Empire are on 14 points from eight matches after conceding a 2-2 draw against Tynemouth A on Tuesday. Either Newcastle Dragons or Newcastle University (10 points from seven matches) can now catch them.

Tynemouth A v Gosforth Empire was a thrilling affair: Gosforth’s Gustavo Leon Cazares beat Paul Dargan on Board 1 and Tynemouth’s Tommaso Penna scored a shock win against Roger Coathup on Board 2. On Board 3, Gosforth’s David Armbruster moved to 7.5/8 by beating David Henderson, while Tynemouth’s Gary Cornwall defeated Stefan Hartmann on Board 4.

Div. 1 Standings:
1 Gosforth Empire 14;
2-3 Newcastle Dragons & Newcastle University A 10;
4-5 Tynemouth A & Jesmond Monarchs 7;
6 Gosforth Salters 2;
7 Leam Lane Aces 0.

Division 2 leaders Gosforth Regents have also slipped up, losing 1.5-2.5 against their clubmates, last-placed Gosforth Centurions. The Regents are three points ahead of Morpeth A and South Shields Arbeians, but both chasing teams have a match in hand.

    Div. 2 Standings:
    1 Gosforth Regents 12;
    2-3 Morpeth A & South Shields Arbeians 9;
    4-5 Tynemouth B & Forest Hall Dragons 6;
    6-7 Alnwick A & Gosforth Centurions 4.

    Division 3 is a two-horse race between Leam Lane Bullets and Gateshead.

    Div. 3 Standings:
    1 Leam Lane Bullets 11;
    2 Gateshead 8;
    3-4 Gosforth Ivy & Gosforth Hawthorns 7;
    5 Forest Hall Titans 6;
    6 Morpeth B 4;
    7 Gosforth Woodbines 3.

    Tynedale unexpectedly lost 4-0 to Tynemouth C in Division 4, allowing Newcastle Jesters to catch up.

    Div. 4 Standings:
    1-2 Newcastle Jesters & Tynedale 10;
    3 Forest Hall Phoenixes 9;
    4 Newcastle University B 8;
    5 Tynemouth C 6;
    6 Gosforth Jedis 5;
    7 Alnwick B 2.

    Division 5 is very close, with Jesmond Knights just a point ahead of South Shields Sand-dancers.

    Div. 5 Standings:
    1 Jesmond Knights 14;
    2 South Shields Sand-dancers 13;
    3 Tynemouth D 9;
    4-5 Gosforth Otterburns & Forest Hall Griffins 8;
    6 Forest Hall Centaurs 4;
    7-8 Alnwick C & Morpeth C.

    Junior team Gosforth Siths are three points ahead in Division 6, despite losing 2.5-1.5 to Newcastle University C.

    Div. 6 Standings:
    1 Gosforth Siths 14;
    2-3 Forest Hall Wizards & Newcastle Cavaliers 11;
    4 Newcastle University C 8;
    5 South Shields Custodians 6;
    6-7 Cramlington Royals & Morpeth D 3;
    8 Newcastle University Women 2.

    PUZZLES

    Puzzle A: White to move.

    Puzzle B: White to move.

    Puzzle C: White to move.

    Puzzle D: Black to move.

    ANSWERS:

    A: 1 Qh3+! Kxh3 (1…Kg5 2 Qxd7) 2 Nf2 mate.
    B: 1 b5+! Cxb5 2 Kb4 f5 3 e5 f4 4 e6 f3 5 e7 f2 6 e8N! f1Q 7 Nc7 mate.
    C: 1 Qc7+! Nxc7 2 Nb6+! axb6 3 Rd8 mate.
    D: 1…g4! 2 Qf4 Qf1+! 3 Kxf1 (3 Rxf1 Ne2 mate) Rh1 mate.