YORK RI Cavaliers 'A' virtually guaranteed winning the York Evening League Division One title when they drew with their nearest challengers University to remain four points clear at the top.

University had a strong team but Cavaliers 'A' had Gawain Jones on board one and he proved the difference.

Jones, making only his second appearance of the season, is the leading player in York and one of the country's best junior players.

With five games completed University were leading by three points to two but the board one game was unfinished.

Jones, a piece down, took full advantage of opponent, Almas Ermekov's time trouble and checkmated him to win the

game and virtually assure Cavaliers 'A' of the title.

Earlier, Richard Hardy had won for Cavaliers 'A', while Scott Fraser and Matthew Palmer won for the University. The games between Paul Hopwood - surprisingly playing below Steve Huxley - and Mark Kambites, and Jim Shemilt and Karl Moxley were drawn.

Cavaliers 'A's successful evening was almost overshadowed by some of the ludicrous events involving the other matches being played simultaneously.

In division two, Nowhere Men's match with More Whips was switched at the request of More Whips' captain from Nowhere Men's venue to the Railway Institute.

This would normally be acceptable except, on this occasion, four other matches were being played and there was not adequate space for the extra match.

The visiting captain had to set

up all the boards and then More Whips defaulted board one. The five points to one win by Nowhere Men was scant consolation and the situation highlighted the need for greater organisation in division two.

Nowhere Men's wins came from the default, Roger Hall, Tim Chapman, Peter Ewer and Paul Usher while J Wilson won

for More Whips.

The match between Cavaliers 'B' and Lady Anne Middleton 1, being played at the same time also ran into trouble.

Another team started playing on one of the boards meant for the match despite the game already starting on it.

There was a semblance of justice when Lady Anne Middleton won the match by 4-. There was a double default on bottom board and wins from Tony Slinger, Jon Griffith, Tim Turner and a default win. The highlight for Cavaliers 'B' was Aaron Barker's draw with John Cawston.

Shepherds 1 ran out easy 6-0 winners against Whippersnappers with wins from Barry Marshall, Keith Goodey, Nigel Dowker, Herbert Lockwood, Bob Maltby and Ian Till.

Lady Anne Middleton 2 comfortably defeated Danger Squares by 4-1 points with wins from Colin Snowball, Steve Cooper, Sam Watson and Andy Wade. Bill Fulton was an impressive winner for Danger Squares while Paul Brookes can also be pleased with his draw on board one against Neville Pearce.

Updated: 11:55 Thursday, February 28, 2002