Bury Chess Club A visit to Rochdale for the Bury first team proved a serious test for both teams, with the home side much stronger on the top boards, but with the lower boards more evenly matched. Ominously the first result was a loss by Robin Yeung, but Sheraz Khalil won to level the scores and an evening of deep concentration followed. A draw for Jim Litherland kept up the tension, but then John Grindrod won nicely, followed by John Altham, getting back into form after a lay-off. Welcome draws by Anthony Lee and Bernard Sharples against highly graded opponents on the top two boards at last gave Bury a winning margin, and sent them home happy!

Rochdale 2.5 v Bury 1st 4.5 RA Newton 0.5, A Lee 0.5 ; MA Whitehead 0.5, B Sharples 0.5 ; A Catz 1, R Yeung 0 ; E Dobson 0.5, J Litherland 0.5 ; M White 0, J Grindrod 1 ; D Taylor 0, J Altham 1 ; S Shepherd 0, J Altham 1.