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Report by John Philpott

This challenge match at Writtle between the reigning Essex League champions and the Essex President's team represented the fourth such event since the series was revived in 2004, with Writtle involved on three of these occasions.

The first four games to finish were the the bottom four, with Ian Woodward outplaying Joe Rosenberg to put the home side ahead, and three draws.

Chris Fegan doubled Writtle's lead on top board at the expense of Ian Reynolds.  After Ian Hunnable and Andrew Brett drew, Larry Marden narrowed the margin to 3 - 4 by winning what was undoubtedly the most entertaining if not necessarily the most accurately played game of the night. [Chandler-Marden]  With John White by now struggling to hold his position against David Millward, the President's team's chances hinged upon Aidan Corish's game against Robin Slade.  With Robin playing both ...b5 and ...g5 within the first four moves, Aidan unsurprisingly secured a positional advantage, but Robin later turned the tables to force his opponent's resignation.  David Millward then duly won to secure the match for Writtle, but the final game to finish was a second victory for the President's team achieved in good style by Ray Purse.