WORCESTERSHIRE were easily beaten in an under 12s grade Midland Counties match by Shropshire at Redditch.

But county captain Giles Stanton said the final score did not reflect the closeness of many games.

On several boards, players were a pawn to the good but failed to convert the advantage.

Bill Watson, of Droitwich, was the only Worcestershire player to win his encounter.

Shropshire 11 Worcestershire 4 (Randle Truscott ; Crean 1 Podlesak 0; Thompson 1 Bingham 0; White 1 Gittus 0; Tunks Stanton ; Williams 0 Watson 1; Whittaker Jackson ; Ciddell 1 Parkes 0; Silver 1 Curry 0; Viszokai 1 Fox 0; Westhead 1 Ellis 0; S Jones M Clack ; Tunks I Clack ; Brown 1 Collett 0; Lewis Loynes ; A Jones Daniels ).

In County League Division One, a remarkable game between Kidderminster's John Wrench and Worcester's Eric Myers was the highlight of a 3-3 draw.

A great clash superbly demonstrated the peculiar value of the knight and is being nominated for the Woodcock prize awarded to the most enterprising game.

Kidderminster 3 Worcester 3 (Wrench 1 Myers 0; Pickett Mellor ; Friar 0 Collett 1; Bissell Spittle ; Riley 0 Gordon 1; Close 1 Yates 0).