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   Waikato Bays' Day.

Day 1 of the 2018 Inter-Provincial Championships has seen Waikato Bays teams make a strong start in the quest for the Dougal McLean Trophy, for the best performing region over the four categories. After 5 of the 14 rounds, the points in the hunt for this trophy are:

1. Waikato Bays                  43
2. Canterbury                     35
3. Wellington                      25
4. Auckland-Northland        23
5. Otago-Southland            22
6. Top of The South           16
7. Central Districts               8

Waikato Bays lead the Senior field and are running second in the other three categories. Canterbury lead the Intermediates, are second in the Seniors and also recorded a third and a fifth placing.

The Open field has a strange look to it. It looked like Wellington and Auckland-Northland would vie for top position…and while Wellington do hold a very large lead (by over 16vps),Auckland-Northland hold up the table.

Only in the Women’s field are Auckland-Northland dominant, with the top 2 over 20vps ahead of third with this time, Wellington at the bottom. The Dougal McLean is about consistent performance…hence the initial strong position of Waikato Bays. Here then are the tables:

Open                                                                                     Women

1.       Wellington	65.09		1.Auckland-Northland	64.10
2.       Waikato Bays	48.47		2.Waikato Bays	62.61
1.       Canterbury	44.20		3.Otago/Southland	41.37
2.       Otago/Southland	42.60		4.Top Of The South	37.16
3.       Central Districts	37.74		5.Canterbury	35.34
4.       TOPS	31.18		6.Central Districts	29.84
5.       Auckland-Northland	30.72		7.Wellington	29.58

 

Intermediate                                        Seniors

1.Canterbury	55.20		1.Waikato Bays	53.18
2.Waikato Bays	50.07		2.Canterbury	52.31
3.Wellington	49.63		3.Top of The South	51.74
4.Otago/Southland	41.99		4.Auckland/Northland	48.78
5.Auckland/Northland	41.23		5.Wellington	37.10
6.Central Districts	37.46		6.Otago/Southland	34.90
7.Top of The South	24.42		7.Central Districts	21.99

 

Board 7 of Match 1 required accurate defence from the North-South pairs to defeat their opponent’s slam.

 

The Intermediates bid these hands a little tamely in that at five of the six tables, the spade game was made in comfort, once doubled, while one North was beaten by a trick in 6. In the Open, three tables played in 4. Three times 5 was beaten a trick, once doubled and once redoubled.

5xx was played by Waikato Bays' Brett Glass and Gary Foidl. Brett thought they were missing a making slam and hence redoubled. He was wrong but still gained 6 imps when his teammates bid and made 5 at the other table.

In the Seniors, half the field made a comfortable spade game while another table saw 6 defeated by 2 tricks.

It was left to the Women and a couple of Seniors tables where the real action occurred. After an auction like the above involving Kay Nicholas and Lesley Andrew, for Canterbury Seniors as East-West. North led the top heart but failed to find the club switch meaning Kay could set up diamonds to discard her club and make the slam. At the other table, Michael Johnstone, South, discouraged on the opening lead and Paula Gregory tried a speculative and successful club.

In the Women’s field, 6 was bid and made three times with two tables in the spade game and 5 made at the sixth.

The hand demonstrates the importance of count. Assuming North-South have bid and supported hearts, South must give count on a top heart lead. North can identify South has an even number of hearts. Continuing hearts is thus hopeless…and North must chance their arm with a club, as diamonds lie so favourably for the declarer.

There are six more matches played on Day 2 with the event concluding lunchtime on Monday.

Richard Solomon

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