Dubious Logic

Tollemache Qualifer (2)

One feature of Suffolk's performance at the Tollemache qualifier (full results given last week, a narrow miss at qualifying for the second year running) was the slightly perverse makeup of the result. The county registered wins over the two seeds in the group, although in that they had some company – only one team from the eight who qualified in 2000, the holders Surrey, managed to reach the final again. They fared less well against the teams in form, the eventual first and second, but more inexplicably, failed to dispatch the perceived weakling in the group Cumbria.

On the positive side, in a last round pairing against Bedfordshire, who had defeated Suffolk soundly in an Eastern Counties League match a few weeks earlier, the tables were turned. No-one was in any doubt that this would be a good board.

Love All

East's calls were incomprehensible. The ace of clubs was led and when hearts proved to be 5-0 declarer played without much enthusiasm to lose another trick. Against Peter Gemmell and Peter Sutcliffe the opponents played six clubs from the long side and did not move after they were doubled. The heart lead was ruffed and that was another positive score. For Suffolk East-West, Mike Sherer and Eric Newman playing a strong club successfully declared the club slam from the short side while Julian Lang and David Morran bid to the top spot of six no-trump with no problems in the play whatsoever.

It was harder to see that this was going to be a good result.

The auction looks incredible now I can see all four hands in plain light (maybe I missed East's bid on the first round?). Five clubs didn't have much play and I was eventually two light (one better if I had ducked the diamond switch a trick two). Everyone else had played in four spades, a contract that had presented no difficulty and the vulnerable against not save had scored up. It blows this way and that - but sometimes the wind is just behind you.

Published Saturday 8.Dec.2001