Lady Milne Match 4: England vs. CBAI

Lady Milne Match 4: England vs. CBAI

We got off to a good start in match four against CBAI (Ireland's second team) and were leading 36-8 at half time. A disappointing second half saw us lose three big swings whilst picking up a few part score swings. After the dust had settled we had prevailed 56-49.

Standings after match 4:

England            53.74

Scotland:          52.58
Ireland              40.33
N. Ireland          32.83
CBAI                 32.69
Wales                27.83

Full results are available at the following site: here

	KQT84 J7 K96 K62
A92 AK953 T T874		J75 Q82 AQJ74 J3
	63 T64 8532 AQ95

1 (1) 2* P 4 AP

Susanna and Catherine bid to the thin 4H and Susanna received a lead of KS. One needs to bring the diamonds in but there is a real lack of entries to dummy and a spade ruff is threatened. Susanna took what looked to be the best shot of overtaking the TD with the JD and when that home she was able to arrange ruffing down the KH with getting back to dummy to cash them. Well played.

Its very close going into our final match which sees us play N. Ireland whilst Scotland take on Ireland. All to play for!!!

Lady Milne Match 3: England vs. Ireland

Lady Milne Match 3: England vs. Ireland

Match three saw England face Ireland. There were lots of chances in the first stanza for both sides, after the dust had settled the score was 49-38 in Ireland's favour. In the second half we really got going and managed to make a couple of no play contracts as well as getting on the right side of some competitive boards. The score in the second half was 49-16 to England which meant the overall result was a win by 22.

Standings after match 3:
England            42.27

Scotland:          39.46
Ireland              34.27
N. Ireland          25.95
CBAI                 19.30
Wales                18.75

Full results are available at the following site: here

	K7964 JT 632 QJT
AQ Q83 AQT K9543		J8 A972 K875 872
	7532 K654 J94 A6

1NT P 2 P
2 P 2NT P
3NT AP

Sometimes in bridge you need a little luck...  An aggressive auction to 3NT lead to an unlucky spade lead from North but there will still quite a lot of work to do, diamonds would have to be 3-3 and the hearts needed to be brought home. Nicola lead a heart to the Ace noting the jack with interest, a small heart from the dummy produced a very smooth small heart from south...

The queen went in quickly and 9 tricks were wrapped up when the diamonds were 3-3 and the hearts came in. Nicola had realised than stiff J and KJ with North would not produce 9 tricks (the defence would have time to set the spades up before the 9th trick was established) so played for JT doubleton.

Well played, tomorrow we complete the round robin with matches against CBAI and N. Ireland.

 

Lady Milne Match 2: England vs. Wales

Lady Milne Match 2: England vs. Wales

Match two saw England face Wales. After the first 16 boards the teams were match was close - 49 to 37 in England's favour. At the start of the second stanza Wales were briefly ahead but a strong end to the match, in particular a run of 44 imps in 5 boards allowed England to pull away and win the match by 111 imps to 56.

Standings after match 2:
Scotland:          29.46
Ireland              28.36
England            28.18
N. Ireland         21.05
Wales                8.75
CBAI                 4.20

Full results are available at the following site: here

	T5 T9653 AQJ2 52
873 Q T7543 AK94		AQ92 J8742 86 Q3
	KJ64 AK K9 JT876

(2) 2NT (P) 3NT AP

2 hearts showed both majors weak, Susanna overcalled 2NT and was raised to game by Catherine. The opening lead was the 7S which went to the 10 and A, back came the 2S to the jack. Susanna tried the JC from hand which ran around to the QC and East returned another spade which Susana won with the K.

Susanna decided to cash her 4 diamond tricks and on the last one, East erred and pitched their small club. A hopeless contract suddenly had had new life breathed into it and Susanna was not about to miss her opportunity. She cashed her top two hearts and exited with her losing spade. East down to J7 of hearts had to give the last trick to dummy's T9 of hearts.

Next up Ireland.