This paper summarises the match statistics for Oxfordshire's county matches in the 2002-2003 season. As a bit of fun, I present a ranking table for individual pairs. It is not meant to be taken too seriously!

The paper focuses on Dawes/Porter matches, but for completeness and ease of reference includes Andrew Lintott's new figures from the Tollemache qualifier.

1. Dawes/Porter results

As a rough guide to opposition strength, the "Field" column shows the mean average VP score achieved by the rest of the field against those opponents; the "Total" column shows end-of-season total VP.

For example, on paper, the A-team's 17-3 win against Warks was good, since the rest of the field was averaging only 9.2 VP, whereas the 11-9 win against Derbs was below par.

2. Dawes/Porter analysis

Butler scores were derived by imping against the "datum" score (the average of the six scores remaining after discarding two extremes). The Notts figures haven't appeared before.

A-team Butler scores

A-team cross-imp scores (across both teams)

B-team Butler scores

B-team cross-imp scores

3. Player rankings

This is mainly "a bit of fun" (as Peter Snow might say).

Various schemes are possible. Some features I find desirable are (i) each match should carry equal weight, (ii) the score should retain a bridge meaning, (iii) the scheme should be easy to explain and to implement.

The method I've used is to double the Butler IMP score and convert to a score out of 20 on the applicable VP scale.

[This is a compromise. I don't convert directly, because you're entitled to hope that a good score will be augmented by better-than-datum bridge from your team-mates. I don't quadruple before converting, because that would give full marks to a mere +21 IMP, whereas full marks should be reserved for scores good enough to compensate for under-performing team-mates.]

In these rankings, pairs with more than one game are shown in bold. Ties are split in favour of the pair with more games (or a better IMP aggregate).

A-team rankings

R. Lonsdale & S. McPhee    65/4 = 16.25
A. Smith & L. Godfrey      16/1 = 16.00
D. Bygott & J. Bygott      15/1 = 15.00
K. Bennett & S. Noble      62/5 = 12.40
S. Landy &  L. Hayes       20/2 = 10.00
R. Procter & N. Smith      26/3 =  8.67
M. Webley & N. Wilkes      33/4 =  8.25
T. Pike & A. Wilson        33/4 =  8.25
A. Lintott & D. Lintott    20/3 =  6.67
J. Williams & C. Wilson     6/1 =  6.00

B-team rankings

A. Lintott & D. Lintott         20/1 = 20.00
A. Smith & S. Landy             20/1 = 20.00
G. Nicholas & J. Slater         20/1 = 20.00
A. Wilson & J. Strachan         19/1 = 19.00
J. Williams & C. Wilson         60/4 = 15.00
J. Dutton & S. Dutton           30/2 = 15.00
S. Landy &  L. Hayes            15/1 = 15.00
G. Nicholas & D. Roberts        42/3 = 14.00
M. Robinson & N. Perceval-Price 14/1 = 14.00
R. Procter & N. Smith           36/3 = 12.00
D. Bygott & J. Bygott           69/6 = 11.50
B. Claridge & S. Claridge       19/2 =  9.50
M. Day & N. Perceval-Price      15/2 =  7.50

Overall ranking

This overall ranking list treats A-team and B-team scores on an equal footing. One might assume that A-team matches are tougher and attempt to compensate artificially. However, it is not clear how to do this, and of the five pairs who played in both teams during this season, only four had a better average score in the B-team.

A. Smith & S. Landy             20/1 = 20.00
G. Nicholas & J. Slater         20/1 = 20.00
A. Wilson & J. Strachan         19/1 = 19.00
R. Lonsdale & S. McPhee         65/4 = 16.25
A. Smith & L. Godfrey           16/1 = 16.00
J. Dutton & S. Dutton           30/2 = 15.00
G. Nicholas & D. Roberts        42/3 = 14.00
M. Robinson & N. Perceval-Price 14/1 = 14.00
J. Williams & C. Wilson         66/5 = 13.20
K. Bennett & S. Noble           62/5 = 12.40
D. Bygott & J. Bygott           84/7 = 12.00
S. Landy &  L. Hayes            35/3 = 11.67
R. Procter & N. Smith           62/6 = 10.33
A. Lintott & D. Lintott         40/4 = 10.00
B. Claridge & S. Claridge       19/2 =  9.50
M. Webley & N. Wilkes           33/4 =  8.25
T. Pike & A. Wilson             33/4 =  8.25
M. Day & N. Perceval-Price      15/2 =  7.50

4. Tollemache Qualifier (Nov 23rd/24th 2002)

The Tollemache was not used in compiling the player rankings, as I don't have comparable data; indeed, as the Tolle's format is different (shorter matches, different scoring and so on) it is doubtful in any case whether the matches should be compared. This is not to downgrade the team's fine performance in any way!

Oxfordshire came 3rd in its group of 9, scoring 86 out of 160 VP. The team: K. Bennett & S. Noble; M. Webley & N. Wilkes; A. Smith & L. Godfrey; R. Lonsdale & S. McPhee; T. Pike &  A. Wilson; A. Lintott (npc).

Separate match results: 1. v. London -36 IMP, 6-14 2. v. Kent -49 IMP, 4-16 3. v. Herts +96 IMP, 19-1 4. v. Sussex +39 IMP, 15-5 5. v. Warwks +66 IMP, 17-3 6. v. Lincs -13 IMP, 8-12 7. v. Yorks -58 IMP, 3-17 8. v. Herefords +36 IMP, 14-6 Total +81 IMP, 86 VP.

The Performances of Pairs: Stuart McPhee & Richard Lonsdale +32 IMP Steve Noble & Keith Bennett +9 IMP Abbey Smith & Lizzie Godfrey +128 IMP Tim Pike & Alan Wilson +35 IMP Mike Webley & Nigel Wilkes -41 IMP

[My thanks to Andrew Lintott for these updated figures, which supersede those appearing in his match report at http://www.btinternet.com/~richard.lonsdale1/tolle02.htm.]

Appendix: Dawes/Porter VP scale