WILTSHIRE'S under nine and under 11 chess teams had their first taste of competition for the season when they played a friendly match against Berk-shire in Swindon.

The under 11s won by a convincing margin despite resting their leading players.

Under-10 Lewis Martin, from Westlea School, played impressively on board one to win all three of his games, and Paul Grosvenor, 10, of Lethbridge, was also unbeaten on board three. Joe Loveless, of St Catherine's, Jake Farmer, from Brookfield, Stephen Grant of Colebrook and Ian Matthews, of Westlea, all made 100 per cent scores.

The Under Nines had a far tougher match and despite rallying to win the third round, lost their four-round contest.

Managers Neil Hayward (Under Nines) and Edward Glennie (Under 11s) would be delighted to hear from any keen young chess players, or to see them at the December Chess Fun Day on Saturday December 22 at Headlands School, Swindon.

Jack Cleeve, from Lawn, did well to score 50 per cent on top board, but the team had players from one small school Sherston, near Malmesbury to thank for most of their points. Harry Pettit was top scorer with three out of four; Jack Campaigne and Alastair Todd each won two of their three games and Oliver Clifton contributed a further point. Michael Vertannes, from Swindon's Holy Rood School scored two out of four.

Both teams are still to be finalised and managers Neil Hayward (Under Nines) and Edward Glennie (Under 11s) would be delighted to hear from any keen young chess players, or to see them at the December Chess Fun Day on Saturday December 22 at Headlands School, Swindon.

More details can be found on the Wiltshire Junior Chess website at www.wiltshirejuniorchess.co.uk