Congratulations on a magnificent win as Petersfield A won the NICKO Final!
it was a game of two halves. That is, the first three sets were played one evening, the second on another!
In the very first set there was a game swing each.
But in the second and third sets the team twice found the right defence to defeat 3NT.
And in the fourth they found a game missed at the other table.
So Petersfield took a half-time lead of 28 Imps.
Milton Keynes got the better of a few part-scores in the fourth set to claw back 3 Imps.
In the fifth set, more part-score gains, but they missed two games.
So Petersfield took a 38 Imp lead into the last set which is a good place to be.
However with nothing to lose, Milton Keynes were always going to be looking for opportunities in the final set.
The first two boards were quiet affairs, but they found the right defence to Owen's 4S on board 43, 10 back!
Two more quiet boards, then they over-stretched to a not unreasonable slam on board 46.
Mike began to feel more confident, but they gained 14 on board 47 by making 3NT (the defence might have been flawed!)
However a final push to 5C on the last board was doubled for -500.
So the net effect of 4 big swings was just 2 Imps, and Petersfield could raise a (weary) glass to a decent victory in an enjoyable match.
Congratulations to Mike Kinsey, Owen Leigh, Steve Preston & James Clark. An excellent Result.
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