Match report by Lloyd Eagling

The teams:

Dawes: Lloyd Eagling and Keith Rodgers; David Burgess and Gordon Fullerton; Sandy Fulton and Gerry Franklin; Graham Lee and Graham Brindley

Porter: Martin Mellor and Carol Fisher; Sylvia Goodlud and Nick Clarke; Roger Staton and Fay Kirk; Janet Jacques and Will Irving.

Markham: Tim Anderson and Bernard Scanlon; Mary Cook and Bernard Moore; Daniel Crook and Alex Allen; Daphne Coggles and Jackie Parsons

The day started badly when Mike Coggles phoned 15 minutes  before my scheduled departure having put out his back and being unable to travel. Many thanks to Jackie Parsons who stepped in to play with Daphne.

On board 2 Keith and I were very kindly pushed into 6C for an easy +1370:

2NT showed the red suits. Possibly as North I could have read partner for a singleton diamond  (which he did not have) and chanced 6C over 4D. As it happened West obliglingly gave me another opportunity.

At half time the Dawes team trailed by 22 imps,the Markham by 35 but the Porter led by 15.In the second half the Porter team drew further away and the Markham staged a minor revival aided by board 26.

Bernard Moore played 2H doubled on a diamond lead and continuation.Now a spade to North`s Ace was followed by a club ducked to the Ace.  South tried K of hearts ducked and  a heart continuation won by the Ace. King of clubs, King of spades,spade ruff and a ruffing finesse against the Queen of clubs led to 8 tricks. Very nicely timed by Bernard.

In the end the Dawes team lost by 17 imps (7-13 VPs), the Porter won by 51 imps (17-3) and the Markham lost by 16 imps (7-13).

Congratulations to the Porter team especially to Carol and Martin who registered +57 on the Butler imps. Also welcome to Tim and Bernard who acquitted themselves admirably on their debut.