MIKE BARKER’S Magicians are out front with St Martin’s in close contention as the half-way stage in the Barbados Draughts Association (BDA) team tournament was passed Sunday.
The Magicians held off Lodge Road A for a 20-20 draw despite a fine pair of wins from opponent Nathaniel “Thani” Grosvenor.
St George were not as fortunate against St Martin’s, losing 14-26. This match provided Anthony “Rat” Agard to maintain his winning ways with 2-0 victories over Trevor Sealy and Derwin Bispham. Julian “The Machine” Burgess pulled off a smart 1-0 victory over Rawle “Schoolboy” Williams, who is making a return to competitive draughts.
The victory by Burgess was his third in a row but against the self-proclaimed “King of Cross” Darwin Lorde, he had to settle for a pedestrian draw.
Lodge Road A’s Grosvenor, who conquered former World champion Ronald “Suki” King 1-0 in the national competition, outfoxed Gregory Simmons and Winston “Scarpetta” Lowe 1-0, while Carson Farley and Barker replied for the Magic men with 1-0 wins against Sam Marshall and Wayne “Peg” Gill, another former top player on the comeback trail.
The four front-runners in the seven-team tournament are Magicians on 96 points, St Martins on 87, St George 74 and Lodge Road A 73. Four teams will advance to the semi-finals after the seven-round round robin.
Tomorrow night, Lodge Road B clash with Mayers Road B at Bush Hall, starting at 7:30 p.m. (HH/EZS)
