Trans Tasman 2006 Report

Day 3

The Kiwis tried new tactics the next morning. Lynne Butler composed a Scrabble haka and led some of the team and supporters in its performance. Unfortunately it didn’t seem to intimidate the opposition and NZ lost the round 4-8. They improved a little in the next two rounds, winning five games, but this was not eating into the Australian lead.

Finally in round 20 the team managed a 7-5 win, but the Australians still had a healthy 27 win lead.

After lunch the Kiwis slumped again, losing 3-9 and an Australian victory was almost certain.

In the 22nd round Australia needed only three more wins to take the Challenge Trophy back. First score sheet in was Bob’s win against Patrick, then David Lowden arrived with his result of a 407-341 against Debbie. Soon after, Julian finished with a win over Mike and the challenge was won by Australia. Now the interest centred on who would win the individual trophy.

At that point Andrew was in the lead with 17 wins, followed by Bob on 16, and Howard and Jeff both on 14. Technically it was still possible for a Kiwi to win the individual trophy. Howard and Jeff both won their next game, while Bob lost. But Andrew won his and was in an unassailable position on 18 wins, two ahead of his nearest rivals and only one game left to play. Andrew, Bob and Jeff all won their last games, taking the first three individual places in that order.

The NZ team rallied again in the final few rounds to whittle back the Australian lead to 31 wins at the end of the Challenge.

A few highlights of the day were:

  • Bob lost with a score of 468 against Mike—7 bingos in the game, including QUARTIER by Bob
  • Chris played BRIGUED and ANTHODIA
  • Russell played LUNEMOTH* instead of MOLEHUNT—LUNEMOTH* was given as a mnemonic at the dinner the previous night
  • Chris played MOVIEOLA for 63, Lynne replied with IGNORED for 82, but Chris scored 131 for TITANIAS through the I.
  • Trevor played SENORIA*. Debbie challenges it. Trevor says that there are many ways to spell SIGNORIA. It comnes back wrong, and Trevor says "and that's not one of them".
  • Andrew sees (S)TR(E)AMBED but turns it down - it's good!
  • Julian finds ENTO(DE)RMS to leave the last bingo lane open - then misses UNIPEDS to win the game.
  • Andrew, holding DIISS plus a blank had to find a play scoring 13 points to win by 1 - he found SI(A)LIDS for 13.
  • Alistair played OPENABLE for 140 plus 5 points for the challenge.

It was good to see a number of NZ supporters throughout the tourney. Val Mills supplied great lunches and refreshments, while Pat Grant did her usual competent job of adjudicating. Lynn Wood directed the tourney with aplomb and graciously presented the trophies.

The final results are here.