2024 Interclub, Brigadier Bridgebum reports
On the evening of Friday 22 November it was our final parade, the club’s Intermediate Online Interclub Team, the “Northland Nutters” by name, if you please. After eight rounds and eighteen previous matches we held a narrow lead among the 22 teams entered. Three matches lay ahead to complete the competition, and claim ultimate glory, if only.
What a bubbly bunch of bridglings our squad of ten had been throughout the season, and there the final four for the night stood, swords sharpened knowing that “they don’t like the cold steel up ‘em”. Private Laurie Brockliss (First Class), as modest a man as you’re ever likely to meet, had his sabre glistening like you’ve never seen before. These are the things that a commanding officer spots, if he’s watching that is, and not just burbling, like now.
We won the first match 27-5, drew the second 23-23 and won the final match 18-13. So how did we go overall, after a nine night competition spread over nine months? Could we/did we bring home the bacon for the club? Yes, we were ahead after the first match, still ahead after the second, still ahead by the slenderest of margins with one board to go to complete the season, board number 249 if you were keeping a cumulative count. Aargh, it slipped away from us on that final board with Papatoetoe Buckle Up winning overall by the finest of margins. We were a honourable second, and our near neighbours, the Mangawhai Marvels, came third a further 10 VPs or so behind. So at least we enjoy local boasting rights. After the initial disappointment I think we’re pretty happy with the season. It was an enjoyable one.
Many thanks to all those who played. We had a team of ten: Jayne Broome, Laurie Brockliss, Dave Beck, Nancy Beck, Kevin Grundy, Kim Thomas, Juliet Golighty, Alan Pumfleet, Lee Orton and our non-playing reserve, Cynthia Johnson, who was willing to make herself available notwithstanding that the thought of playing online terrified her. Good on you Cynthia. I had the very great pleasure of leading, communicating with all of you throughout and herding the “chosen four” to the start line each matchday, although there were times when I considered that more military discipline might be appropriate. The klink came to mind when two of our chosen team forgot and failed to show, although such oversights were soon forgiven. A number of team members, who are about to become open players, will not be eligible to play next year. I hope we still have a team in the Intermediate competition next year, but that is for others to decide. Fare thee well should there be one.
Brigadier Bridge-bum (the Burbler)
PS; Private Brockliss, without a whisper from the man himself, was actually promoted late season to the rank of Captain for his devotion to duty. Others, who shall remain unnamed, regularly dropped hints that they were not averse to a rise in the ranks. I cannot comment on whether they were in fact promoted.
