​Week 27 of the League Season and absolutely nothing happened. That doesn’t stop us from having a weekly Report though!!
 
Team 2 gained a great point in Week 26 against Murrayfield 4. That point enabled them to leapfrog Murrayfield into 2nd bottom place in Division 1 – that might be vital depending on the make-up of the Divisions for next year – could they avoid relegation? We certainly hope so! They could have finished the season with a flurry with their trip to Edinburgh International and when we see the makeup of their team what a chance for another win – only one regular player and two players playing up from Division 2 – oh hold on a minute – the Penicuik team seem to be made up of triplets called Mr Walkover! What a disappointing way to end the season. We await an explanation as to why the concession had to be given.

Team 4 have been moaning at our roving reporter for a few weeks now about a terrible oversight on his part in that he failed to report on their match v Corstorphine 3 from late March. Well, when we say Team 4 have been moaning, that’s not entirely accurate – one of their players has raised the matter on several occasions! We knew there would come a time when we had nothing to report on so allegedly it wasn’t an oversight but a deliberate failure to report the match! And here’s the chance for the players involved to relive all the glory of the night.
 
Matchday started badly with news of Covid hitting! A positive test for Rachel, and a positive test in the household of Jim (though not for Jim himself). Paul had an eye infection and couldn’t drive so he couldn’t get Jay to Penicuik either – a six person team decimated! Jim offered to play (he was negative after all) but was quickly told to come nowhere near Ladywood! So, in the end Craig Linton and Ian Hislop played together. 3-0 down before the start of the night and it got even worse as our Club President forgot to tell Ian & Craig that although Ian isn’t ordinarily allowed to play doubles, he is if there’s only two players – Oops!! 4-0 down before the night got started! The first two matches saw Ian take on Aidan Clark and Craig take on Jim Lee. A 12-10 first end win for Ian did not exactly give the pair confidence that this was going to be a good night, but young Aidan must have then become a bit more bamboozled by Ian’s dodgy rubber losing in three straight ends. Craig had a tight match but with his even dodgier bat managed to win 11-6, 11-9, 11-8. Craig then played Aidan and Ian took on Aneta Wallace as she entered the match. Aidan was unlucky again, losing in four ends 11-8, 9-11, 11-4, 12-10 and when Ian won his match 3-0 suddenly the scores on the night were tied at 4-4. Could the Penicuik duo pull of a great comeback? They certainly could – two further 3-0 wins saw the Penicuik side over the line by a 6-4 scoreline. If only they could have played like that in the reverse fixture when with a team of three the Penicuik side lost 7-3!! Oh well – a good finish to the season but ultimately Team 4 got off to such a bad start to the season that the writing was on the wall from just after Christmas. They never quite recovered but good to see improved performances as the season drew to a conclusion.
​
And so to our player of the week award. Mr Walkover is probably out of the running so that leaves Ian and Craig! Our Week 24 award was a combined one with Week 25 and went to the undefeated David Simpson – maybe we need to take it back! In fact, he can win it for Week 25 and it would surely be unfair to split the Team 4 players after a great night – a joint award (as promised before the start of the match – and we have the text to prove it!) – well done to Craig and Ian.
 
A week without a controversy? Surely not? Apart from Team 2’s concession nothing happened! There might be plenty of controversy next week though after the Penicuik v Penicuik Handicap Cup Semi-Final – one team got there after a quarter final walk-over v Murrayfield (OK let’s move on) whilst one team battled to a good win over Corstorphine. An intra club fixture is always good for a bit of animosity and bitterness – we know who Murrayfield will be rooting for!!

Week 26 of the League Season saw Teams 2 and 3 in action as well as the Handicap Cup Quarter final between Penicuik and Corstorphine.
 
Team 2 have struggled in recent times and went into their penultimate fixture against promotion chasing Murrayfield 4 rooted to the bottom of the Division 1 table. Only a point behind Murrayfield 6 and with a better game difference, the Midlothian outfit knew that a draw would push them into 2nd bottom – and with Murrayfield 6 having completed their season, that would be enough to ensure they finished above the Edinburgh side. Murrayfield 4 also needed a point to secure promotion – Our Club President tried to get agreement at the beginning of the night for the teams just to call it a draw, but Murrayfield Team Captain Colin Clark was having none of it!! First up for the hosts was Sonny Taylor v the green pimpled rubber of Murrayfield new recruit, Tomasz Bracha – Sonny did well to win a game but fell in four ends. Gary McDougal then faced Stuart Wilson and when he won the first end 11-1 he looked to be on easy street – Stuart had other ideas as he came back to take the next two ends before Gary forced a decider with a 13-11 fourth end victory – the decider was tight and as his teammates watched on, Gary just did enough to claim a 12-10 victory. Julian Taylor then faced Colin Clark and looked in complete control at 2-0 up – Colin adjusted well to Julian’s style, however, as he stormed back to win in five, much to Julian’s frustration. Gary then lost to Tomasz before Sonny defeated Colin – 2-3 down and Julian’s game against Stuart was massively important. Julian likes getting his money’s worth – another five ender which went the distance, but this time Julian held on to win the decider 11-9 and to level the scores. The hosts fell behind again after a disappointing doubles and with Julian’s loss to Tomasz, both Gary and Sonny knew they needed to win their final matches to secure the draw. A little nervy at times but the result was never in doubt!! Two four end wins for the home pair and, a little surprisingly perhaps, the point needed to avoid bottom place was secured for the hosts – well done to them.

Meanwhile, Team 3 were in action against Edinburgh University in their last Division 2 match – they knew that a point for them would secure a 4th place finish in the division. With Abby working, Greig McDonell joined daughter, Hannah, and James Wighton to face the students. In Jakub Kara, the University have an excellent player – long pimples on one side and short on the other – he uses them well and going into the match he sat 2nd in the Division 2 individual averages. James faced off against him in Match 1 having lost to Jakub on their previous two meetings in the League and National League. A 13-11 first end win for James was followed by a 12-10 second end loss – when he lost the third end 11-5 and trailed badly in the fourth the match looked over – but James dug deep and somehow managed to come back from the dead playing some terrific attacking table tennis to win the last two ends 12-10, 11-9 – what a start for the hosts. Hannah was unlucky in her first match – she also won the first end before losing the second – at 7-1 down in the third she looked dead and buried but came back to narrowly lose out 11-9 – the fourth end swung one way then the other before Yu Xia triumphed 17-15! Greig won his opening encounter before Jakub got on the board v Hannah. James was then involved in a tricky match with Enrique Calisto who seemed to up his game significantly – some great rallies in a four end win for James. Greig won Match 6 and going into the doubles the home side led 4-2. This was going to be the week for Hannah and James to convert good play into a win – and they had numerous chances to do so – a 16-18 loss in the first end was followed by a 13-11 win in the second. There was never anything in this match – the next two ends also went the distance, but the students played the bigger points better winning those ends 12-10, 11-9. 4-3 as Hannah and dad Greig took to the tables simultaneously for their final matches of the night, Greig not looking forward to playing against Jakub’s funny bat! Hannah took the pressure off dad by winning in three straight sets to secure the point for the home side. Greig was 2-0 up and upon seeing Hannah win appears to have over-relaxed as he lost the next two ends – another five-ender for Jakub – a shocking start for him, however, saw Greig over the line 11-4. It was then left to James to bring an excellent season to a conclusion for Team 3 as he won the final match in 4 ends to give the home side a terrific 7-3 victory.

Away from the League, James Wighton, Craig Linton and Charlie Brindley were due to face Corstorphine in the Handicap Cup Quarter Final at Napier. Craig got Covid and Charlie had to pull out at the last minute – fortunately each Team is allowed to have a pool of five players play for them! Last minute replacements, Ian Hislop and Jim Jack made the trip into Edinburgh. James was first up with a 3 point start v Dave Grant. When James won the first end 14-4 it looked like the handicaps were ridiculous. But the Corstorphine player dug in and a 17-15 second end win turned the match on its head. He went on to win in 4. When Ian Hislop then lost in straight sets to James Grant, the visitors were 2-0 down and in trouble. Jim Jack is in his first season of League TT and this was his debut in the handicap Cup. He made good use of his 10 point start v Dave Hall winning 16-14, 16-13, 16-9. The battle of the two James’ saw Penicuik James come out on top and the match was drawn level at 2-2. Tight games are always crucial and the next two matches both went to five ends (good handicapping). A 15-10 fifth end win for Jim gave Penicuik their first lead of the night and then from 2-0 down, Ian came back to win the next three v Dave Hall culminating in a 12-10 deciding end victory. Suddenly the visitors were nearly home. James Grant kept the hosts alive with a win v Jim before the final two matches were played simultaneously. James was never in trouble v Dave Hall and with a 3-0 win he secured the victory for the visitors. Ian played out the last match v Dave Grant which he won in four. A 6-3 victory and a place in the semi-final secured.
 
And so to our player of the week award. Sonny, Gary and Julian all won vital matches in their draw v Murrayfield and all deserve a mention. James and Greig were undefeated in the League and for James it was a massive win against a player rated at more than a 1000. If we add to that his two wins in the Handicap Cup there’s no doubt that he surely wins this week's award? Hmmmm. Hold on the voting committee have taken into account that he’s apparently become really unlikeable this season. Surely not? Both Ian and Jim also won 2 in the Handicap Cup, although the pressure was off by the time of Ian’s second win. And for that reason, our deserved winner this week (his first ever weekly award) is Jim – a debutant in the handicap cup and he held his nerve against players from higher divisions for two vital wins – well done to him.
 
Our controversy of the week section keeps going! Murrayfield 4 secured second place in the Division 1 title race with their point against us last week. If two teams do get promoted that will give us 4 Murrayfield teams in the Premier League next season – oh my – 8 matches v Murrayfield. Now we have nothing against our Edinburgh friends (despite how one of our handicap cup teams treated them!) but 8 matches against the same club is a lot. If the League stays with 10 team divisions almost half of every other teams’ matches will be against Murrayfield! (45%). Now no one can knock Murrayfield for their success and they are, without doubt, currently the most successful and largest club in the League. As we have mentioned previously though, there is a view that having too many teams from one club is “anti-competitive”. Just look at the ever growing Scottish National League. Murrayfield have been the victims of their own success in that – Rule 3.2 of the SNL Constitution states that no club can have any more than two teams in any division. With Murrayfield’s top two teams in the 1st Division it’s tough luck on Murrayfield C – even if they win Division 2 they can’t get promoted. Should we have something similar in the Edinburgh League? Or does such a rule simply punish success – surely we want the best teams in our top division? If Murrayfield keep churning out good enough players then well done to them? Where does it stop though? Murrayfield 5 and 6 are both in Division 1 (although the 6s are likely to be relegated). If other Murrayfield teams keep getting promoted from Div 1 (or the same scenario arises in any other division) do we ever say enough is enough? Who knows what the answer is? Maybe one for the committee to think about.
 
Speaking of Murrayfield, the saga of their handicap cup quarter final v us dragged on a bit. As we reported in our Week 19 Round-up, Murrayfield failed to show up to play against our trio resulting in us claiming the game. With a couple of the other quarter finals still to be played, the Cup Secretary contacted us again to ask whether, player commitments permitting, we could see a way still to play this fixture. Eh No was the resounding answer back from our trio of unforgiving players. Jings – not even a moments contemplation given it would seem. So they’ve made it to the semi-final in a rather controversial manner. There they will meet our victorious trio from last week – so we’re assured of a finalist this year – the neutrals in the Club will be rooting for….. – well actually some may think back to a few seasons ago when Penicuik hosted Murrayfield in the Cup semi-final and at 4-4 with the deciding match to play time at Ladywood ran out! Murrayfield wouldn’t claim a place in the final in that manner would they? You bet they would!! What goes around comes around as they say! The problem, of course, is that the next time it comes around………..
 
And finally, there’s already some internal issues about who should play the Cup semi-final! Craig was player of the match in the previous round but can he get his place back for the semi? And if he does who does he replace. And what about Charlie? We’ve decided we’re going to leave the selection to Team Captain, James – he’s ruthless so anything could happen!
 
Oh how we love TT.

We are so late with our Week 24 Round-Up that it’s now combined with our Week 25 Report! Our intrepid reporter has apparently “never had a minute” - Shocking!  

Week 24 saw Team 1 play their penultimate match (and their last home fixture of the season) against Premier Division strugglers, Edinburgh International.  Colin Green, David Simpson and David Melrose knew that they were probably already clear of any relegation trouble, but a win here would confirm the position. David M was unlucky in his first match against the human wall of Marek Domagala. Two 12-10 victories kept Marek in it, and he won the decider 11-6 for a 3-2 win. David S levelled the scores before Colin took on Debjit Choudhury. This was another tight match, but the home player came out on top this time with an 11-4 fifth end win. Games 4 to 6 saw further wins for David S and Colin and the pair then combined in the doubles knowing that a victory would ensure at least a point. A straightforward 3-0 win followed and when David S won his final match of the night the win was secured. Colin then ground out a win v Marek to complete a 7-3 victory.
 
In Week 25 the same trio travelled to North Merchiston and finished their season off with another win. There were wins for all three players in the opening round of singles to give them a commanding 3-0 lead. Geoff Hunter got the hosts on the board in Match 4 against David M before further wins for David S and Colin gave the visitors an unassailable 5-1 lead. The doubles was close but an 11-9, 11-9, 16-14 win secured the victory for the Midlothian side. Two further wins followed as Team 1 finished their season with a good 8-2 victory. After the early season loss of Carsten (the less said about that the better), Team 1 were in trouble but the acquisition of David Simpson was a huge boost for the Club. In the end, Team 1 finished in a comfortable mid-table position losing 9 matches out of 18 played.       
 
Team 2 have struggled since Christmas to get out of relegation trouble – they were desperate to get out of last place and here was their chance in Week 25 as they faced an understrength North Merchiston at Ladywood. The first two matches of the night were decided in five ends. In a nightmare for the home side, both went the way of the visitors – Brian Cornet rolling back the years to defeat Sonny Taylor 11-5 in the fifth and agonisingly for dad Julian, young Aidan Davis, playing up from Division 2, securing a 13-11 fifth end win to give the visitors a 2-0 lead. Charlie Brindley got the home side on the board v Nick Thomas but Brian’s win v Julian re-established a 2 game lead. Sonny and Charlie then pulled the match level at 3-3 and the all-important doubles followed. Another five ender and disaster for Penicuik as they fell to another damaging five end defeat. 4-3 down and the home side knew they needed all three of the final singles to leapfrog Murrayfield at the foot of the Division 1 table. Julian and Sonny managed wins (perhaps as expected) so the key was Charlie v Brian – both undefeated on the night – could Charlie pull off a shock? At 2-1 down it looked unlikely, but credit to Charlie as a forced a decider. A shocking start seemed to end his chances – 10-5 down, he put some pressure on as he fought back to 10-8 but Brian held his nerve to secure a 5-5 draw, ensuring North Merchiston their division 1 survival, but putting yet another dent into the home side’s chances of avoiding relegation. 2 games still to play for Team 2 but they are against promotion chasing Murrayfield 4 and mid table Edinburgh International.

Team 3 fitted in two matches in Week 25 – Monday night saw them travel to North Merchiston where they secured a 7-3 win. It probably should have been 8-2 but somehow father and daughter duo, James and Abby Wighton lost the doubles from 2-1 and 10-5 up in the fourth! No surprise when they were hammered in the deciding fifth end, their heads being completely messed up! In fairness to North Merchiston they didn’t look like a side facing relegation and in Aidan Davis (as he proved against our Team 2 three nights later) they have an up and coming youngster who has a great deal of talent.
 
Thursday night and Ladywood was the venue as James dropped out to make way for Greig McDonell to join daughter Hannah and Abby Wighton as they hosted Haddington. Team 3 were looking to turn the tables on Haddington who they’d lost to just a few weeks ago. The teams were a little different for the return fixture, no Russell Swan for the visitors and James was missing for the home side. The match was played on two tables throughout the night and as Hannah lost in straight sets to the impressive Graeme McKinnie, NPC James was concerned as daughter Abby was in a five end tussle with Mark McMullen (allegedly their weakest player, playing up from Div 3). Abby managed to refocus in the decider to pull the match level. The next two matches saw 3-0 wins for Greig v Rolandas Skultinas and for Hannah v Mark. 3-1 up and suddenly things were looking more positive. The final two matches before the doubles were shared, a win for Greig and a loss for Abby. 4-2 up and the girls tried to secure at last a point v Graeme and Rolandas. The second and third ends were crucial after the girls had won the first. In end two they came back from 10-6 down but lost out 12-10. In end three they were 10-6 up and somehow also lost 12-10. They fought back in the fourth with an 11-5 win, but they couldn’t recover from a shocking start in the decider as the East Lothian outfit kept themselves in the match. Greig secured at least a point with a win over Mark meaning that either Abby or Hannah had to win their final matches of the night. Both had beaten their opponents in the reverse fixture, but TT is a funny old game and on this occasion wins for Graeme v Abby and Rolandas v Hannah meant the match ended in a 5-5 draw. One match left for Team 3 in their quest for a top 4 finish. A point in their last match would be enough for them to secure that 4th place finish.
  
And so to our player of the week award. Not happy with three out of three, three players won six out of six over the last fortnight. David S and Colin for Team 1 and Greig for Team 3 – ok we know Greig’s not winning it! Colin and David also won both their doubles fixtures – how can we split them? Well, including the doubles, Colin won 24 out of 29 ends played – David, however, won 24 out of 25 played – now that’s a terrific performance – well done to David S.  
 
And finally, our controversy of the week section. We’ll start away from the League at last weekend’s Scottish Veterans National Championships. Let’s picture the scene as best mates off the table Greig and Colin battled it out for a semi-final place. Colin’s already proved this season that being “friendly” with him means nowt when it comes to Vets tournaments – just ask Carsten! And let’s face it Greig can be a little bit “argumentative” at times – the scene was set for a classic – not in terms of the TT played but the chat and mind games were top quality! In the second end, the first incident occurred as Greig lobbed one of Colin’s serves up, putting his hand up at the same time pointing out the obvious net! Colin, taking a leaf out of Greig’s playbook completed his third ball attack blasting the return past his opponent. He apparently never saw the net and as if Greig was hearing his own voice, he heard the words that he’s said on many occasions “it’s up to the umpire to call the lets “!! Ouch! Play to the whistle as they say! The umpire ultimately gave the let. Locked at 1-1 in ends the next incident saw Colin hit one of his textbook backhand winners – well we say a winner but on this occasion it hit off Greig’s finger and looped up high, somehow landing on Colin’s side of the table who dumped it in the net, Colin having virtually come to a halt because he had heard a yelp of “Yeeeesssss” apparently come from Greig in recognition of such a good shot! That’s my point claimed Colin and the umpire agreed – why enquired Greig? The umpire was convinced she heard the word “yes” spoken before the point was over and she thought the word came from Greig’s direction! What??? Well, if you’re giving him the point for that, says Greig, make sure you award every point to me when he grunts every time he plays a big forehand loop! Oh, this was getting tasty! I’m allowed to do that says Colin - that’s not against the rules – show me the rule book where you’re not allowed to say the word yes says Greig! In fairness, none of it affected the match result -this was very early in end 3 and Greig had his chances to win the match – in the end he made more mistakes than Colin and courtesy of this win Colin progressed to the semi-final, a result which secured his second place finish overall in the Over 50s category – well done to him and to David Simpson who reached the final and who both did enough over the course of the season to be selected for Scotland in the Home Nations later this year. Oh, and Greig and Colin are still mates – they’ve had far worse scuffles than that!! And Greig has learned a valuable lesson – he’s never going to acknowledge a good shot from Colin ever again!
 
And finally, back in the League we would have given a yellow card if we had any and if we were allowed (are we allowed?) in our match v Haddington. After losing the fourth end of the doubles, one of our opponents launched the ball across the table, travelling at speed above his opponents’ heads (Abby and Hannah) on its way to clattering into the wall behind them! It was pointed out that that was a yellow card offence (maybe even red) and could have hurt one of the players. His doubles partner calmed the situation down and it probably helped focus the player for the next end as the opposing pair went on to win the decider. The fact that we don’t know what we are entitled to do in a situation such as this is a little troubling – do we have any power to deal with “unsportsmanlike” behaviour. In the old days this is the type of thing which would be reported to the committee – not seen any of that for a long time – maybe bad behaviour has just become more acceptable…..
 
Not many games left – this week sees one of our teams in Handicap Cup action and Teams 2 and 3 in League action – how will we survive when the season ends????