Hertfordshire enjoyed one of their most successful weekends for many years when they qualified for the eight-team final of the prestigious Tollymache Cup.

With only two teams qualifying from each of the four groups, and Hertfordshire only mid-table in the early stages, our heroes - David Dickson/Malcolm Harris, Celia/Derek Oram, Sally Bennet/ John Cuthbert, Alan Kay/ Dave Walker, and Anne Flockhart/Vernon Gaskill - had some work to do.

But when the dust settled at the end of the second day, November 27, they topped the group with 113 international match points, two clear of Middlesex.

David Dickson said: "The final score of 113 was the highest percentage qualifying score in all four groups therefore the team thoroughly deserved their success.

"In a team whose previous performances in this competition could, at best, be described as too volatile and over-critical of team-mates, it is a pleasure, as captain, to report not only how well the team played, but also how well they pulled together as a team.

"Their professional performance certainly made my job an easy one."

The final, located like the qualifying event in Kettering, will take place on the weekend of the 10th and 11th of February 2007.