Bridge to Australia

Press, 8 December 1976, Page 6

Bridge to Australia

PA Auckland Australia won the right to play in the Bermuda Bowl, symbol of world championship interzone contract bridge competition, when the visiting team defeated New Zealand at the Far East championships in Auckland yesterday. The two countries normally play an annual test match of 96 deals, but this year it was agreed that the two 28-deal matches in the double round robin of the Far East tournament would decide the Bvme Cup and the honour of South Pacific representation in the world teams championship which next year will be played in Manila just before the next Far East tournament in November. As Australia defeated New Zealand by a 24-point margin' in the first Far East contest' last week and yesterday won,!

78-44, the margin was decisive. Events in the afternoon round yesterday followed a predictable pattern. The top teams all won, 8-0. Further down the ladder, Malaysia recorded its first maximum win by beating the Philippines, 97-40. The women’s contest remains open. The Philippines! eliminated Australia’s chancel of refining its title by winning 5.53-2.47 and remained at the top of the ladder. Japan defeated Thailand 8-0 and moved to second. New Zealand defeated Indonesia 6.16-1.84 and retained third! place. In the following results victory) points are in parentheses. OPEN TEAMS Round 17.—Australia 80. Indo-! nesia 55 (6.73-1.27); India 74,1 iPhilippines 55 (6 07-1.93); Japan: |136, Singapore 24 (8-01: Hor>g Kong 54, Thailand 45 , 5.20-2 80 ■) New Zealand 75, Malaysia 44

. (8-0 i Pakistan defaulted to T»i wan, who received 6.64, their victory points average I Round 18.—Taiwan 137. Sings , pore 39 (8-0); Pakistan 88, Hong . Kong 38 (8-0 i Australia 78. New . Zealand 44 <B-0,; Thailand 85, Indonesia 34 <B-01; India 71, Japan t 40 (8-0); Malaysia 97, Philippines ! 40 (8-0). Rankings after 18 rounds: Tai- ’ wan 118.90. 1; India 104.43. 2: Australia 102,44 . 3; Pakistan 89.06, 4; (Japan 80.77, 5: Indonesia 74.16, 6; ,New Zealand 72 19, 7: Hong Kong ’ 6.3.11, 8; Thailand 60.21, 9: Philip- ■ pines, 55.27, 10; Malaysia 2106, , 11; Singapore 17.75, 12 [ WOMEN'S TEAMS Round 15 —Thailand 83. Philip- ; pines 50 ,7.96-0.04'.; Australia 65, l New Zealand 46 (6.48-1.52,; Japan ■ 85, “Straits Times ’ 79 (4.46-3 54,; Taiwan 84, India 58 (6.69-1.31). ; Bye: Indonesia <s>. I Round 16.—Philippines 42, Australia 20 (5.33-2.471; New Zealand 183, Indonesia 61 (6 16-1 34.: Japan 72, Thailand 17 (8-0); “Straus [Times” 103, India 30 <B-0, Bye; (Taiwan (5) ; Rankings after 16 rounds: (Philippines 81.47. 1: Japan 79 '4. 2; New Zealand 77 65, 3. Thailand 72.46, 4; Australia 67 02, 5; “Straits Times" 65.73, 6. Indonesia 59.47, 7; Taiwan 58 19. 8; India 30.57 9.