Peggy Bayer Round 8: SBU vs Wales

This was the match I really wanted to win today, as I think we are quite closely matched teams. We got off to a shaky start, losing 11 IMPs playing in the wrong major game.

After that it was very tight, lots of flat boards, often the sign of a good game. This one was very well defended by Wales:

West opened a weak 3S and Kevin overcalled 4D. Michael raised this to game. It looks like there's only two Spades to lose, but look what happened.

East took the Ace of Spades, then West the King. Then West lead a third Spade. This beats the contract, as declarer can't win by ruffing high or low. East got the Queen of Diamonds for the third trick.

That was 10 IMPS to Wales putting them up by 15 with two boards to go.

At this point one table finished, and I sat with our faster pair, waiting for the results of the last two boards. On the penultimate board Michael made 4H for a game swing for us, and on the last we beat 4S for another game swing, and a surprise 37-30 win. Here's the 4H:

There was just a Heart, Diamond and Club to lose. I won't publish the bidding at the other table, but suffice to say Aidan and Harry sitting East-West made enough noise to put them off from bidding game. 

Our narrow win translated to 12-8 Victory Points. The other Scotland team scored a good win against Ireland too to consolidate second place:

Next we have Ireland then Northern Ireland. If they both go well we can move up a place into 4th.