Having passed initially I decided to make a suicidal double on the next round. Despite much buck passing partner was eventually treated to playing in 2H doubled. Note how well the opponents did to double holding just 3 hearts each. North cashed a D and led a trump. Partner tried to make something of the spades playing small to the 8. That works against Q9x or J9x, more likely than QJx as here. North did well to duck and decarer made just 4 trumps for -1100.

There followed a spirited post-mortem (a post-mortem of the hand not of me although it was close). In case anyone does not already  realise how unwise it is to bid with my hand a few of the reasons are: the vulnerability, partners pass over 1D , the opponents strong bidding and so on. There is nothing to gain against good opponents. It is the sort of thing one gets away with at pairs but not at teams and not against a pair who recently won the Nicko trophy.

Our first set lead had now vanished but half time came and we regrouped. Board 19 arrived:

Partners 2NT showed 22-23 and my 3H was a transfer to spades. This produced a slightly aggressive 4S and I was confident about 6S, a good slam as it happened. If partner obediently bids just 3S I would have bid 4C but some good judgement is needed thereafter to reach slam. It is much easier if South can show good spade supprt. The real answer is to play 3S in this sequence as showing support, wth 3NT bid on a doubleton. This convention is a fairly recent idea but will I predict become widespread.

The Dawes team managed a 15-5 win, the Porter led throughout to win 17-3 and the Markham lost 4-16.