Worcestershire v Notts - 1^st July 2007

Notts travelled to Worcester with a few established players and partnerships unavailable, as is normal in July, and our new captain Lloyd Eagling pleading a prior engagement in Alaska.

The Teams:

Dawes - John and Irene Auld; Graham Brindley and Graham Lee; Sandy Fulton and Clive Kaye; Eric Nunn and Gordon Fullerton.
Porter - Ellin Overton and Evelyn Grainger; Keith Rodgers and Jackie Parsons; Sally Cook and Gerry Franklin; Phil Dale and Ray Furlonger.
Markham - Peter and Margaret Savage; Denis Barnett and Bernard Moore; Margaret McCorkell and Andy Coleman; Sylvia Goodlud and Nick Clark.

The Worcestershire duplimate produced a stream of big hands - Board 5 was the first and the biggest:

At our table Worcestershire bid with frightening efficiency to 7♦.

This is a case where good bidding leads to a moderate contract.
At 6 tables a grand was bid but only 2 declarers made it. For Notts that was Sandy Fulton who had a natural sequence with Clive Kaye which identified all the tricks. In 7NT Sandy cashed the top clubs before running the red suits to squeeze South in the blacks. A double Vienna Coup no less.

One pair who did not get beyond the 2 level were Keith Rodgers and Jackie Parsons opponents.
The North hand is a middle of the road vulnerable multi 2♦ as dealer for Keith (don’t knock it - such enterprise served Notts well in the Pachabo). East/West - with jaws dropping presumably - duly doubled 2♥ for 1100. Not bad for Notts and could have been very good.

At tea time we were 18 imps up in the Dawes, 10 down in the Porter, but well behind in the Markham.

The last big hand - Board 29 - decided matters:

All Vul - Dealer North

The North hand was a pretty solid 1♥ opener for Keith but I decided to pass, planning a surprise later. Partner opened 1♦ and West bid 2♦ showing black suits. I bid hearts, East bid 2♠, partner bid 4♥ and East bid 4♠ - I pounced with a double.

East ruffed the heart lead, finessed a spade and played clubs. She kept playing clubs while I made just three trump tricks. Rarely have I had a nastier surprise. Next time I will think about the club fit.

All round the room Worcestershire laid waste to us on this deal: making doubled games, bidding club slams, and picking up 89 imps.

Well played Worcestershire who won the Dawes 15-5, the Porter 19-1, and the Markham 20-0. Many thanks to all the Notts players who braved the floods to play for the county. A special mention for Graham Lee & Graham Brindley who stepped up to the first team and performed very creditably.

Match Report by John Auld