With Christmas just around the corner, Team 4 caught up on their one outstanding fixture from the first half of the season as they hosted Edinburgh University 5 at Ladywood on Thursday 21st December in what was Week 14 of the Edinburgh League Season. The hosts were dealt a blow following the late withdrawal of Kristian Skotzen. Craig Linton and Aidan Craig were joined by Patrick Shanks playing up from Division 4. Aidan got the team off to a terrific start with a straightforward 3-0 win in Match 1. Craig was then involved in a mammoth tussle in Match 2 – he’s had some close games this season but 90% of the time has found a way to win – and this was no different as he squeezed home 15-13 in the decider. Patrick lost match 3 as the students got on the board but a win for Craig in match 4 gave the hosts a 3-1 advantage. Match 5 saw Aidan involved in a topsy turvy affair. After losing the first two ends 11-4, 11-4, Aidan seemed to work out his opponent’s style winning the next two 11-5, 11-4. The decider went the distance, but it was the University player who got over the line 11-9. Patrick then played some great stuff to extend the hosts lead with a four end win in Match 6. 4-2 going into the crucial doubles and Aidan and Craig quickly secured at least a point with a comfortable 11-3, 11-5, 11-2 win. Further wins for Patrick and Craig gave Penicuik a 7-3 victory, which perhaps flattered them a little. Had match 2 gone the other way that could have had a big impact on the game.
So, at the end of the first half of the season, Team 4 leap into second place in the Division 3 table with Craig sitting top of the individual averages with an excellent 88.8%. And we’re sure that there's more to come from the others in the team who will improve in the 2nd half. At this rate, promotion must be a realistic goal for Team 4.
Craig had another excellent night and credit to Patrick for playing a vital role in Team 4's win. But in a week where no other matches were played, our selection Committee have gone away from weekly awards and this week recognise our "Player of the 1st half of the Season". This player is rewarded not because of league performances, but because of terrific commitment and effort in relation to the running of the Club. Having qualified as a coach over the summer, this player’s contributions to our Saturday morning coaching sessions have been nothing short of amazing. Even putting to one side the hours and hours spent coming up with the ideas and then preparing for the sessions, the imaginative and unique nature of what is presented makes the sessions stand out. This player has organised and run a Club summer tournament as well as a summer tournament just for the juniors, has run Halloween Specials, TT based Quizzes, TT Beetle Drives, TT Snakes and Ladders and three weeks of Christmas themed sessions culminating with Junior and Senior Xmas Tournaments. None of this straightforward nonsense for this young lady – a massive well done to Hannah for her creativity and for the wonderful imagination which she brings to a Saturday morning at Ladywood. The kids (and adults) love her slant on "training" and her fellow coaches are genuinely in awe of the effort put in by her to make Saturday mornings that bit "different" and "special". Although sometimes that old moody fellow coach has questioned the amount of "TT training" that goes on with the juniors, each week the proof of the success of the sessions is shown in the smiling faces of the juniors who come back week after week to find out what the next inventive game will be. And the fact that other juniors have asked if they can plan a session shows what a great impact Hannah has had - well done to her. The next stage will be for coaches Greig and James simply to leave her to it – breakfast at Spoons on a Saturday morning sounds good to them apparently!
And finally, our controversy of the week section. Don’t be silly it’s Christmas in a few days and we've just finished on such a high that there's no room for controversy!
We wish all our members and all our TT friends from around the league a very happy Christmas and we’ll be back in the New Year to cover the second half of the season.
So, at the end of the first half of the season, Team 4 leap into second place in the Division 3 table with Craig sitting top of the individual averages with an excellent 88.8%. And we’re sure that there's more to come from the others in the team who will improve in the 2nd half. At this rate, promotion must be a realistic goal for Team 4.
Craig had another excellent night and credit to Patrick for playing a vital role in Team 4's win. But in a week where no other matches were played, our selection Committee have gone away from weekly awards and this week recognise our "Player of the 1st half of the Season". This player is rewarded not because of league performances, but because of terrific commitment and effort in relation to the running of the Club. Having qualified as a coach over the summer, this player’s contributions to our Saturday morning coaching sessions have been nothing short of amazing. Even putting to one side the hours and hours spent coming up with the ideas and then preparing for the sessions, the imaginative and unique nature of what is presented makes the sessions stand out. This player has organised and run a Club summer tournament as well as a summer tournament just for the juniors, has run Halloween Specials, TT based Quizzes, TT Beetle Drives, TT Snakes and Ladders and three weeks of Christmas themed sessions culminating with Junior and Senior Xmas Tournaments. None of this straightforward nonsense for this young lady – a massive well done to Hannah for her creativity and for the wonderful imagination which she brings to a Saturday morning at Ladywood. The kids (and adults) love her slant on "training" and her fellow coaches are genuinely in awe of the effort put in by her to make Saturday mornings that bit "different" and "special". Although sometimes that old moody fellow coach has questioned the amount of "TT training" that goes on with the juniors, each week the proof of the success of the sessions is shown in the smiling faces of the juniors who come back week after week to find out what the next inventive game will be. And the fact that other juniors have asked if they can plan a session shows what a great impact Hannah has had - well done to her. The next stage will be for coaches Greig and James simply to leave her to it – breakfast at Spoons on a Saturday morning sounds good to them apparently!
And finally, our controversy of the week section. Don’t be silly it’s Christmas in a few days and we've just finished on such a high that there's no room for controversy!
We wish all our members and all our TT friends from around the league a very happy Christmas and we’ll be back in the New Year to cover the second half of the season.
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