Week 20 was Handicap Cup week in the League, but we decided not to take part beyond the first round this season, so it gave the chance for teams to catch up on some outstanding fixtures!
Haddington 2 v Penicuik 3 (Division 2) – Tuesday 17th Feb 2026
Team 3 faced Haddington for the second time in two weeks and having lost in week 19 by a 7-3 scoreline the team were up against it as they made the journey east. With various problems in getting a team together, it was a bit of a shocker that this “reorganised” fixture saw Team 3 make the trip with only two players, and only one regular, Craig Linton! Jay Jayalath played up from Team 4 but from 3-0 down before a ball was struck the writing was on the wall and Craig produced the only victory of the night in a disappointing 9-1 defeat.
Penicuik 2 v Edinburgh International 2 (Division 1) – Wednesday 18th February 2026
Team 2 has Ladywood to themselves on Wednesday 18th Feb as they welcomed Edinburgh International 2. A 9-1 loss in the first half of the season gave the hosts little confidence as Greig McDonell, James Wighton and Hannah McDonell took to the table. The first two matches of the night, played simultaneously, both went the distance. James had a match point against Adam Alnak in the decider, but it wasn’t to be as he fell 12-10 in the fifth. Greig just about got over the line against Dominic Perry, an 11-6 win in the fifth. The next two matches saw straightforward wins for the visitors before Greig pulled one back. Match 6 saw Hannah play some terrific stuff against Adam but from 2-1 up she fell in five ends. The doubles was crucial but James and Greig fell in four ends and when Chandra defeated James in match 8 the game was gone. Hannah played well against Dominic but fell in four before Greig gave the score some respectability with his victory over Adam. A 7-3 loss for the hosts but a couple of matches which could have gone the other way.
Edinburgh University 1 v Penicuik 1 (Premier Division) – Friday 20th February
Team 1 of Colin Green, Peter Aird and Andrew Nimmo brought the week to a close with their visit to St Leonards Land, and they went into the match in confident mood after two consecutive wins in the previous two weeks. The University side, however, were not going to be easy. Manas Arun defeated Colin 16-14 in the fifth and Orkun Kinay defeated Andrew 3-1. Wins for Manas and Orkun against Peter gave the students 4 wins and the pressure was really on the visitors. Peter won against his opposite number and Andrew and Colin both defeated the Uni number 3 as well. Andrew had no problem in defeating Manas but Colin’s match against Orkun was a real slog – all the way to a fifth end decider which Colin won 11-9. It came down to the doubles and another 5 ender – Colin and Andrew got over the line and with that the visitors recorded a terrific 6-4 victory.
Player of the Week
We’re not going to mess about this week – with only three teams in action there was only one player undefeated in singles this week – Greig won his 3 in Team 2’s 7-3 loss. We looked for reasons to give it to someone else but according to Hannah the old man played well and played with some “humour” on the night! Although the player of the night award was given to Hannah – maybe it was just James that found him humorous! Well done to Greig.
Controversy of the Week
After last week’s very serious and in depth controversy, more mundane and fun this week. Adam and Dominic from Edinburgh International were keen to get a mention – so here goes! Dom enjoyed himself at Ladywood – Hannah kept a tally - in his 3 singles matches and the doubles he apparently got 23 nets! Skill on his part apparently – just enough topspin to make that ball come over! Or maybe the nets we were using were dodgy – that was certainly one thing which was shouted by his opponents!
As for Adam, he made Greig bring out the classic rule about finishing a match the way you start it, in terms of clothing. Not sure where this is actually written down, but Adam started his final match against Greig with his tracksuit top on – Greig pointed out he couldn’t take it off as the match “warmed up”. Obviously Adam just ignored him, and in fairness it was said in fun, however we do think this is an actual rule. We remember at an Interleague Event, Charlie Ellis from Murrayfield being sanctioned for trying to take his tracksuit bottoms off halfway through a match! And Colin is forever mentioning this rule to us! Where do we find it? Answers on a postcard please! So, there we go, Adam and Dominic making it into our report as requested! The match was played in really good spirits and that’s what it’s all about.
Week 21 here we come!
Haddington 2 v Penicuik 3 (Division 2) – Tuesday 17th Feb 2026
Team 3 faced Haddington for the second time in two weeks and having lost in week 19 by a 7-3 scoreline the team were up against it as they made the journey east. With various problems in getting a team together, it was a bit of a shocker that this “reorganised” fixture saw Team 3 make the trip with only two players, and only one regular, Craig Linton! Jay Jayalath played up from Team 4 but from 3-0 down before a ball was struck the writing was on the wall and Craig produced the only victory of the night in a disappointing 9-1 defeat.
Penicuik 2 v Edinburgh International 2 (Division 1) – Wednesday 18th February 2026
Team 2 has Ladywood to themselves on Wednesday 18th Feb as they welcomed Edinburgh International 2. A 9-1 loss in the first half of the season gave the hosts little confidence as Greig McDonell, James Wighton and Hannah McDonell took to the table. The first two matches of the night, played simultaneously, both went the distance. James had a match point against Adam Alnak in the decider, but it wasn’t to be as he fell 12-10 in the fifth. Greig just about got over the line against Dominic Perry, an 11-6 win in the fifth. The next two matches saw straightforward wins for the visitors before Greig pulled one back. Match 6 saw Hannah play some terrific stuff against Adam but from 2-1 up she fell in five ends. The doubles was crucial but James and Greig fell in four ends and when Chandra defeated James in match 8 the game was gone. Hannah played well against Dominic but fell in four before Greig gave the score some respectability with his victory over Adam. A 7-3 loss for the hosts but a couple of matches which could have gone the other way.
Edinburgh University 1 v Penicuik 1 (Premier Division) – Friday 20th February
Team 1 of Colin Green, Peter Aird and Andrew Nimmo brought the week to a close with their visit to St Leonards Land, and they went into the match in confident mood after two consecutive wins in the previous two weeks. The University side, however, were not going to be easy. Manas Arun defeated Colin 16-14 in the fifth and Orkun Kinay defeated Andrew 3-1. Wins for Manas and Orkun against Peter gave the students 4 wins and the pressure was really on the visitors. Peter won against his opposite number and Andrew and Colin both defeated the Uni number 3 as well. Andrew had no problem in defeating Manas but Colin’s match against Orkun was a real slog – all the way to a fifth end decider which Colin won 11-9. It came down to the doubles and another 5 ender – Colin and Andrew got over the line and with that the visitors recorded a terrific 6-4 victory.
Player of the Week
We’re not going to mess about this week – with only three teams in action there was only one player undefeated in singles this week – Greig won his 3 in Team 2’s 7-3 loss. We looked for reasons to give it to someone else but according to Hannah the old man played well and played with some “humour” on the night! Although the player of the night award was given to Hannah – maybe it was just James that found him humorous! Well done to Greig.
Controversy of the Week
After last week’s very serious and in depth controversy, more mundane and fun this week. Adam and Dominic from Edinburgh International were keen to get a mention – so here goes! Dom enjoyed himself at Ladywood – Hannah kept a tally - in his 3 singles matches and the doubles he apparently got 23 nets! Skill on his part apparently – just enough topspin to make that ball come over! Or maybe the nets we were using were dodgy – that was certainly one thing which was shouted by his opponents!
As for Adam, he made Greig bring out the classic rule about finishing a match the way you start it, in terms of clothing. Not sure where this is actually written down, but Adam started his final match against Greig with his tracksuit top on – Greig pointed out he couldn’t take it off as the match “warmed up”. Obviously Adam just ignored him, and in fairness it was said in fun, however we do think this is an actual rule. We remember at an Interleague Event, Charlie Ellis from Murrayfield being sanctioned for trying to take his tracksuit bottoms off halfway through a match! And Colin is forever mentioning this rule to us! Where do we find it? Answers on a postcard please! So, there we go, Adam and Dominic making it into our report as requested! The match was played in really good spirits and that’s what it’s all about.
Week 21 here we come!
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