As England had already convincingly won the home international bridge championship (Camrose Trophy) there was little except pride at stake when Northern Ireland took on the Republic in the last match of the series, at St Malachy's College, Belfast.
While the home side got off to a splendid start, winning the first set 25/5, the Republic fought back to win the second 21/9, and the third, 23/7, leaving the overall result 49/41 in their favour.
Final standings: 1, England, 232; 2, Scotland 195; 3, Wales, 170; 4, Republic, 162; 5, Northern Ireland, 128.
Teams - Republic: B J O'Brien, Michael MacDonagh, Tomas Roche, Padraig O Briain, Rory Timlin, Dr G M Keaveney (playing captain). Northern Ireland: Dr H Campbell, T G Mackenzie, Ian Lindsay, A T R Anderson, John Lavery, Michael Coffey, Robert Plunkett (nonplaying captain).
The all-Ireland inter-county team championship (Burke Trophy) will be decided over three sessions at the Templeogue Centre, Dublin, next weekend.
Yeats Country congress, Sligo Park Hotel, pairs - Major: 1, P Gibney, R Conway; 2, C Flavin, M O'Farrell; 3, P Buckley, D Saville. Regional: A Murphy, E Dodd. Local: M Hickey, F Sproule.
Sessionals: D Moloney, S Siva; D McBrearty, M C O'Donnell. Intermediate: 1, G Rogerson, V McDonnell; 2, C Connor, B O'Meara; 3, V McMahon, J Cawley. B prize: J Fox, U McGowan.
Regional: M Nally, G Johnston. Local: N Hunt, G Brennan. Sessionals: B Redahan, D Cassidy; D Meehan, C Moroney.
Mixed: 1, J Murchan, C Burns; 2, B and M Mooney; 3, A Kilcullen, F Walkin. Inter: A Carr, E McMenamin. Regional: N and M Murtagh. Local: M Goodwin, J MacDonald. Gala: 1, P Buckley, D Saville; 2, (tie), E Monaghan, N O'Brien, M Dillon, C McCarthy. B prize: P O'Connor, M Sherlock. Best overall in open pairs: J Taylor. Best local: (tie), M Cleary, C Quirke.
Teams: 1, C Burns, J Murchan, J Ryan, P O'Neill; 2, P Waldron, M O'Connor, C Costello, I Langan; 3, S and J McGinley, C O'Donnell, J C Boyle. Inter: V McMahon, J Cawley, A McKiernan, M Ui Ruanai.
Regional: E Smith, N McDermott, C Quirke, M Cleary. Local: K Maher, M Kilfeather, G Sheridan, M Nally.
Youghal Bay congress, Walter Raleigh Hotel, pairs - Major: 1, R Boland, P C Kiely; 2, L Hyde, J Whelehan; 3, J Moran, B Healy.
Inter: C Kelly, M Healy. Sess: P McCarthy, D Cotter; G Connolly, S O Lubaigh. Mixed: 1, M Prendergast, A Heffernan; 2, R Boland, E Murphy; 3, J McGann, J O'Mahoney. Local: J Higgins, C Treacy.
Teams - Major: 1, P C Kiely, R Boland, D and A Dillon; 2, J Higgins, B Cotter, Maurice, and Marion Kennefick. Inter: 1, J Whelehan, R Fitzpatrick, P Curran, T O'Connell; 2, D Cahalane, A O'Connor, M O'Connell, J Smith.