In the stately surroundings of Selwyn College, the A team drew, the B team won by eighteen victory points to two, and the C team lost 3-17,

In recent years the students have been regarded as a bit of a push-over, but they seem to have upped their game considerably.

It could easily have been worse for Hertfordshire, with the A team behind at half-time, and the B squad, including David Armstrong and me, trailing by 14 match points after a very poor third set.

Board 25 was disappointing, with David and I getting over-excited and going off in a very thin seven hearts, only to learn the safe six would have scored very well as neither of the opposing pairs had found it.

But we redeemed ourselves in the slam zone in the last set, David bidding and making an

six-diamond contract that was nearly 75 per cent, despite only 28 high card points between us.

On Board One, Peter Clark and Rick Irwin had some understandable bidding confusion

- I wonder how many pairs might have bid the same.

PETER - PASS

RICK - ONE HEART

PETER - ONE SPADE

RICK - TWO SPADES

PETER - PASS

Four spades was about an 80 per cent shot.

Peter: "I have a nine count, which despite having five trumps is not really enough to make a try for game, and the 5242 shape is unattractive."

Rick: "As Peter is a passed hand, I will pass one spade with a minimum - therefore two spades shows extra strength. When our suit is spades, there is no reason to raise one spade with a minimum, as I can always bid two spades later over their protective bid. Playing two spades as stronger gives us more accurate definition for the continuing auction."

Peter: "If Rick has four spades and a minimum, he would bid two spades - how does he know the opposition can't make three clubs? With a decent 15-count he should bid three spades, just as he would if I had not passed as dealer."

I can see both arguments, preferring Peter's - but the most important thing is to have a partnership agreement one way or the other.