KIDDERMINSTER Chess Club's John Wrench took on one of Britain's leading women players, Jana Bellin, when representing Worcestershire's first team against Staffordshire first, at Stafford.

Although one of Wrench's best ever games, he missed chances to win and had to be content with a draw. Team captain Maurice Bissell also drew, but Mark Riley and Mike Kitchen were beaten.

Bissell praised the 16 team members, who fought valiantly throughout the five-hour match, and said they were not disgraced by the 11.5-4.5 defeat.