Both teams partied late into the night Saturday but for different reasons. The dogs had broken the recent dominance of the cats by showing there is still life in those old bones while the cats celebrated one of the greatest comebacks in recent history to tie the battle in the final match. The dogs dominated the first two rounds winning 14 of the 22 matches. The third round however reminded me of the song "High Hopes" where that ram keeps butting the dam. Those pesky cats kept charging back into the middle of the alley, heads down in a ramming position and POW - smash into the heads of the doggie opponents. They would usually bounce off and end up on their backs but a few seconds later they stormed back again.

When the dust settled at the end of the tournament there was only one table left and both teams were undefeated so far. The dogs could win the whole thing with a victory, the cats had to win to earn a tie. Orla was playing for the cats with her first time Ryder partner naelyan_rose. On the other side of the crate sat jonnie and Ryder newcomer davy_alan. What an introduction to the alley it must have been for the newcomers. I could hear the knees knocking as everybody gathered around the table. To get a closer look I climbed out on the fire escape with the group gathered there. As I sat, I felt a crunchy, squishy sort of feeling and feared my intrusion into the alley was a horrible error. Needless to say, I was relieved to find I had sat on a pile of fish heads, but I vowed that in the future I would watch from the confines of my room. A report came in that the dogs had won. I strained to see the celebration but instead saw a cat whacking that reporter with a broom. "No!!" cried the cat - "the cats have won". A fight broke out amongst the kibitzers. Someone started throwing spaghetti. I wondered if the neighbors would panic again as they did one day and call animal control. Finally, a level head prevailed and the announcement was made in a very calm voice that "Yes indeed, the dogs have won". WHACK, WHACK, WHACK went the broom again. "NOT TRUE, NOT TRUE, NOT TRUE". The black door next to the restaurant slowly opened and out walked an ominous figure dressed completely in black. We had never encountered this person before. I strained for a better look. "IT'S THE JUDGE" someone shouted. Everyone backed away as The Judge made his way to the old crate. He looked at the score, looked at the gallery, then with a mighty swoop of his long black robe announced "CATS WIN". It was official, The Judge had made his ruling. Everyone seemed to accept the ending very well. A band started playing on the cat side. Someone sang "Hey Diddle Diddle" and others started dancing. Soon the dogs started up their band with a version of "Doggie in the Window" and they too started to dance. I could see another fight was about to start so I edged toward my room. I was stopped by The Judge who had climbed the fire escape and was standing above me. "One Band - One Dance" he shouted and they did just that. They joined together and partied half the night. Somehow, I don't think we have heard the last of The Judge. By the way, If any of you come across a large dressing table mirror please let me know. Mine is missing.

Final score was 22-22 - Congratulations to both teams.

Welcome Newcomers: Cosmarch; Littlegirl_Mary; X_Wing_Fighter; Naelyan_Rose; arzcxy1; davy alan

Super Subs were: RuefulRabbit; Borderline; Pob; Poppeye Thank You!

Seen on the fire escape: Producer - Hides - Jester - Saluki - Adi - Poppeye - Errikos - Dittny

Trophy for perfect 3-0 tournament goes to: CCWaxman/Glossit; Jamesgreywolf/Cooljoe; Naelyan_Rose/Orla

Slams were bid and made by: acastofmany/golfnldy - 6NT; naelyan rose/orla - 6S; tis/galeb - 6S; doggyvw/pflydbob - 6C & 6C

The cats were: Cosmarch/Harlequin Smiles; dj Fleabag/Scorpiokirsten; Ksswenson/Little Ladybug; Smilodonkiwi/redwitch; nuageman/Debb; littlegirl mary/xwing_fighter; Qatsmeow/Redrover; acastofmany/golfnldy; naelyan rose/orla; alanmitchell/lynh uk; tis/galeb

The dogs were: Ryderpuppy/Whitefang; CCWaxman/Glossit; Bobmt/Vernc; psspill/deltagayl; Jean/arzcxy1; Jamesgreywolf/Cooljoe; doggyvw/pflydbob(sub - borderline); Linda/Feldenpuppy; jonnie/davy alan; HarriettCocker/Watchdog; Woo7NT/Meandog