IRELAND ended a four-match series of mixed fortunes at the World Bridge Olympiad in Rhodes yesterday with 24-6 win over Ukraine in round 14. The victory moved the team up to 14th place of the 35 nations in Group A, which is still led by France.
Rory Timlin, Gay Keaveney, Paul Scannell and Ray Brennan were making up for an earlier defeat, 13-17 by Lithuania, who deservedly avenged a defeat in last year's European Championship.
The series began with an Irish win, 18-12 over the Philippines, but the surprise of the day was Ireland's defeat by Bangladesh in round 13. The aggressive style of Tom Hanlon, Hugh McGann, Timlin and Keaveney, so effective in most of the matches, for once did not work. However, the return from the four matches, 66 points out of a possible 100, was very satisfactory.
In 14th place, the Irish are Just behind China and Canada and ahead of Austria and Sweden.
In group B, Israel are setting an extraordinary pace, having won all 14 matches so far.
In the women's event Sweden have opened a big gap in group A. Israel and the US are setting the pace in group B.
World Bridge Olympiad leader boards:
Open teams Group A: 1, France 286; 2, Indonesia, New Zealand, Spain, all 274; 5, Japan, South Africa, both 263; 14, Ireland 220.
Group B: 1, Israel 295; 2, Italy 290; 3, Iceland 276; 4, Chinese Taipei 267; 5, Norway 263; 6, India 260.
Women's Group A: Sweden 178 South Africa and Germany 165; China 164. Group B: Israel 177, USA 175, Poland and Austria 165.