St Martin’s draughts champs

Richard Grazette (left) of St Martin and Nathaniel Grosvenor of Intercity battle to a draw in the final match of the night. (Kenmore Bynoe)

Wed, June 29, 2011 - 12:03 AM

The three way battle for the 2011 Barbados Draughts Association’s Team Tournament ended in a no challenge for the defending champions St Martin’s after they hosted and roasted Intercity on Sunday night in St Philip.

Intercity needed to stop St Martin’s, 23-17, and then hope that the battle between the Magicians and St George at Taitt Hill Pool Bar would have ended in the Magicians’ favour. Part of the plan fell into place with the Magicians conjuring up a 20-20 draw.

However, with Barbados’ No.3 player Rawle “Schoolboy” Williams in their line, up St Martin’s destroyed Intercity 27-13, to jump from 106 points to 133 and successive national titles.

After the first round the team of Williams, Richard Grazette, Anthony Agard, Darwin Lorde and Cedric Fields had the title wrapped up with only Colin Price staving off defeat as he admirably held Williams to a draw. Price was able to score the lone victory in Round Two with a win over Ian Callender who St Martin’s brought in as a substitute with the title assured.

Even so, Price was the only Intercity player to taste victory, as his teammates Michael Dates, Nathanial Grosvenor, Clotis Pinder and Keith Barrow could not halt St Martin’s victory march. The repeat kings’ 133 points were nine better than St George’s 124 who finished runners up.

Intercity had to settle for third with 115 points, while the Magicians could find no spells to escape the dungeon after they ended on 108 points. (KB)