Week 15 of the League Season saw five of our six teams in action with our first team being the only side not yet to have played a match in the second half of the season.
Penicuik VI v Edinburgh International V (Division 5)
First up on Monday of Week 15 were Team 6 who travelled to Edinburgh International to take on a new side to the League. John Grant, Stuart Bennett and Tony Walker took to the table for the visitors in what was an enjoyable night. Two out of the first three matches went the way of the Midlothian side with wins for Tony and John. Match 4 was to prove pivotal – Stuart looked comfortable at 2-0 up but his opponent came roaring back to force a decider. That decider went the distance, but Stuart held his nerve to get over the line 13-11. John lost match 5 but Tony restored the advantage with a win in Match 6. 4-2 up for the visitors became 4-3 after a doubles victory for the hosts. John secured a point for the Penicuik trio before Stuart was at it again as he once again battled through in fifth end decider, 11-8 on this occasion. Tony lost the last match of the night, but the job had been done – 2 wins each for the three players as they secured a 6-4 victory.
Penicuik II v Murrayfield IV (Division 1)
Team 2 faced another tough fixture as they travelled to take on league leaders Murrayfield 4 on Wednesday night. Krzysztof Laszkiewicz, James Wighton and Hannah McDonell made the trip to the Church of the Good Shepherd, and they were looking for some divine intervention to try and resurrect their season. Hannah was a little worried when she walked in to find a one table set-up was in place – she had a long drive back to the Borders to think about. She needn’t have worried though – the matches went by in a flash! At 9-0 down, Krys decided to play his best TT of the night as he claimed the last match to avoid a whitewash for the visitors. A 9-1 defeat was disappointing, but the teenager at least got home by 11pm!
Penicuik III v Murrayfield VII (Division 2)
Craig Linton, Kristian Skotzen and Charlie Brindley also hosted Murrayfield opposition as the Edinburgh outfit’s 7th team made the trip to Ladywood. Two of the first three matches went the way of the hosts and when the same pattern happened in the next set of three, the hosts held a 4-2 lead going into the doubles. Charlie and Craig comfortably secured a point with a 3-0 victory before Kristian made it 2 points by winning a tight game 8 14-12 in the fifth. The two best players on the night then met in match 9 as Graham Muir for the Edinburgh team took on Craig. Now talk about a game with awkward styles! Graham proved to be the more awkward with a five-end victory. Charlie rounded off a good night for Team 3 as he secured the final match of the night to give the hosts a 7-3 victory, all three players picking up two singles wins
Penicuik V v Heriot Watt III (Division 4)
Team 5’s season has been difficult to say the least – their loss in Week 14 was a hammer blow and on Wednesday night at Ladywood they faced a side they had lost to 9-1 in the first half of the season, League leaders Heriot Watt 3. Roscoe Cairney, Rachel Petrie and Mat Dyluk just couldn’t cope with the students’ strong play – it was worse than the first half as the Penicuik side fell to a 10-0 whitewash defeat. Only four ends were won by the Penicuik side – two of those four ends were won by Mat which was good enough for him to get the Player of the Match Award. 6 points from safety – Team 5 need to start winning quickly!
Edinburgh University V v Penicuik IV (Division 3)
The week was rounded off with Team 5’s trip to St Leonards Land to face the students of Edinburgh University. Team 4 welcomed back Jay Jayalath from his extended trip away as he joined forces with Aidan Craig and Ian Hislop. In the first half of the season the same trio had recorded an 8-2 win and so the visitors went into the match with confidence high. That confidence didn’t last long, however, as the first three matches played on the night went the way of the students. 3-0 down and those in the team not playing were stunned by the WhatsApp update! The next three singles, however, were all won by the visitors and when the doubles was also secured by Aidan & Jay it looked like a remarkable comeback win was on the cards. The two undefeated players Jay and Michael Zhang played Match 8 – it went the distance but unfortunately for the Penicuik side Jay lost out 11-8 in the fifth. By his standards Aidan had experienced a poor night but he secured a point with a win in Match 9. Ian Hislop had the chance to repeat his heroics of the previous week in the last match of the night, but this week it wasn’t to be as the University side secured a point with a 5-5 draw. On the night this was probably a point gained rather than lost given the 3-0 deficit - two wins for Jay, one each for Aidan and Ian and a crucial doubles win salvaged a point
Player of the Week
It’s a difficult one this week! No player had a perfect night this week. A number of players won 2 out of 3 singles matches played – John, Tony, Stuart, Jay, Charlie, Craig and Kristian. But this week we’re going to look away from the League for our player of the week. A number of our players took part in the 2nd Scottish Veterans Assessment tournament on Sunday at Bathgate and whilst we may struggle to produce numerous junior talents, our vets players make up for that. Huge congratulations to Ian Hislop who won the over 75s event (surely, he’s not old enough to play in that category we hear you cry), Peter Aird who won the Over 70s, Colin Green who finished 2nd in the over 60s Event (no one is questioning his ability to play at that age group!) and Ryan Docherty who was involved in probably the best rallies of the day as he finished 3rd in the Over 40s. There were also good days for Greig McDonell, James Wighton and Rachel Petrie, all of whom recorded good wins. So how do we split them – all of our members ratings went up as a result of their excellent play – Colin +9, Ryan +9, Peter +10, Rachel +30, Greig +34, James +37 and Ian +45. But sorry Ian – you can’t win the award two weeks in a row, despite being undefeated throughout the day! This week’s award goes to a player who puts in the hard graft and his win on Sunday puts him into the top spot overall halfway through the Vets Assessment tournaments - and he doesn't look a day over 69 - well done to Peter.
Controversy of the Week
Nothing of any significance in the Edinburgh League in Week 15. But plenty of action from the oldies at the Vets Tournament. Our player of the week got the nod, not only for her performance at the weekend but also for keeping calm in her umpiring duties when she had the pleasure of officiating between Greig and Dariusz Szymczak. In the fifth end there was some controversy when Greig pushed a ball high into his opponents backhand – a bit disgusted by it, he stood upright (not much difference from his crouched stance in fairness) and according to his opponent seemed to look away from the table. Dariusz returned the ball although there was a pause by him, Greig played another shot, Dariusz got that one back, before Greig played another shot and Dariusz pushed one in the net. Point to Greig? His opponent said he thought Greig was distracted and thought that a let was going to be called. The controversy is what happened next. Greig offered to replay the point! What? Are you kidding? What’s happened to him. In a fifth end against the player that went on to win the Event. Of course, he wasn’t that happy when he lost the replayed point – and the final score in the fifth end – yip you guessed it 11-9 to Dariusz! Despite him agreeing to the let, that didn’t stop him from moaning at the umpire about it!! Wonders will never cease – Greig avoiding controversy – he must have been in a fantastic mood - he played Keith Dingwall later in the day and that match ended without a cross word either!
On we go to Week 16.
Penicuik VI v Edinburgh International V (Division 5)
First up on Monday of Week 15 were Team 6 who travelled to Edinburgh International to take on a new side to the League. John Grant, Stuart Bennett and Tony Walker took to the table for the visitors in what was an enjoyable night. Two out of the first three matches went the way of the Midlothian side with wins for Tony and John. Match 4 was to prove pivotal – Stuart looked comfortable at 2-0 up but his opponent came roaring back to force a decider. That decider went the distance, but Stuart held his nerve to get over the line 13-11. John lost match 5 but Tony restored the advantage with a win in Match 6. 4-2 up for the visitors became 4-3 after a doubles victory for the hosts. John secured a point for the Penicuik trio before Stuart was at it again as he once again battled through in fifth end decider, 11-8 on this occasion. Tony lost the last match of the night, but the job had been done – 2 wins each for the three players as they secured a 6-4 victory.
Penicuik II v Murrayfield IV (Division 1)
Team 2 faced another tough fixture as they travelled to take on league leaders Murrayfield 4 on Wednesday night. Krzysztof Laszkiewicz, James Wighton and Hannah McDonell made the trip to the Church of the Good Shepherd, and they were looking for some divine intervention to try and resurrect their season. Hannah was a little worried when she walked in to find a one table set-up was in place – she had a long drive back to the Borders to think about. She needn’t have worried though – the matches went by in a flash! At 9-0 down, Krys decided to play his best TT of the night as he claimed the last match to avoid a whitewash for the visitors. A 9-1 defeat was disappointing, but the teenager at least got home by 11pm!
Penicuik III v Murrayfield VII (Division 2)
Craig Linton, Kristian Skotzen and Charlie Brindley also hosted Murrayfield opposition as the Edinburgh outfit’s 7th team made the trip to Ladywood. Two of the first three matches went the way of the hosts and when the same pattern happened in the next set of three, the hosts held a 4-2 lead going into the doubles. Charlie and Craig comfortably secured a point with a 3-0 victory before Kristian made it 2 points by winning a tight game 8 14-12 in the fifth. The two best players on the night then met in match 9 as Graham Muir for the Edinburgh team took on Craig. Now talk about a game with awkward styles! Graham proved to be the more awkward with a five-end victory. Charlie rounded off a good night for Team 3 as he secured the final match of the night to give the hosts a 7-3 victory, all three players picking up two singles wins
Penicuik V v Heriot Watt III (Division 4)
Team 5’s season has been difficult to say the least – their loss in Week 14 was a hammer blow and on Wednesday night at Ladywood they faced a side they had lost to 9-1 in the first half of the season, League leaders Heriot Watt 3. Roscoe Cairney, Rachel Petrie and Mat Dyluk just couldn’t cope with the students’ strong play – it was worse than the first half as the Penicuik side fell to a 10-0 whitewash defeat. Only four ends were won by the Penicuik side – two of those four ends were won by Mat which was good enough for him to get the Player of the Match Award. 6 points from safety – Team 5 need to start winning quickly!
Edinburgh University V v Penicuik IV (Division 3)
The week was rounded off with Team 5’s trip to St Leonards Land to face the students of Edinburgh University. Team 4 welcomed back Jay Jayalath from his extended trip away as he joined forces with Aidan Craig and Ian Hislop. In the first half of the season the same trio had recorded an 8-2 win and so the visitors went into the match with confidence high. That confidence didn’t last long, however, as the first three matches played on the night went the way of the students. 3-0 down and those in the team not playing were stunned by the WhatsApp update! The next three singles, however, were all won by the visitors and when the doubles was also secured by Aidan & Jay it looked like a remarkable comeback win was on the cards. The two undefeated players Jay and Michael Zhang played Match 8 – it went the distance but unfortunately for the Penicuik side Jay lost out 11-8 in the fifth. By his standards Aidan had experienced a poor night but he secured a point with a win in Match 9. Ian Hislop had the chance to repeat his heroics of the previous week in the last match of the night, but this week it wasn’t to be as the University side secured a point with a 5-5 draw. On the night this was probably a point gained rather than lost given the 3-0 deficit - two wins for Jay, one each for Aidan and Ian and a crucial doubles win salvaged a point
Player of the Week
It’s a difficult one this week! No player had a perfect night this week. A number of players won 2 out of 3 singles matches played – John, Tony, Stuart, Jay, Charlie, Craig and Kristian. But this week we’re going to look away from the League for our player of the week. A number of our players took part in the 2nd Scottish Veterans Assessment tournament on Sunday at Bathgate and whilst we may struggle to produce numerous junior talents, our vets players make up for that. Huge congratulations to Ian Hislop who won the over 75s event (surely, he’s not old enough to play in that category we hear you cry), Peter Aird who won the Over 70s, Colin Green who finished 2nd in the over 60s Event (no one is questioning his ability to play at that age group!) and Ryan Docherty who was involved in probably the best rallies of the day as he finished 3rd in the Over 40s. There were also good days for Greig McDonell, James Wighton and Rachel Petrie, all of whom recorded good wins. So how do we split them – all of our members ratings went up as a result of their excellent play – Colin +9, Ryan +9, Peter +10, Rachel +30, Greig +34, James +37 and Ian +45. But sorry Ian – you can’t win the award two weeks in a row, despite being undefeated throughout the day! This week’s award goes to a player who puts in the hard graft and his win on Sunday puts him into the top spot overall halfway through the Vets Assessment tournaments - and he doesn't look a day over 69 - well done to Peter.
Controversy of the Week
Nothing of any significance in the Edinburgh League in Week 15. But plenty of action from the oldies at the Vets Tournament. Our player of the week got the nod, not only for her performance at the weekend but also for keeping calm in her umpiring duties when she had the pleasure of officiating between Greig and Dariusz Szymczak. In the fifth end there was some controversy when Greig pushed a ball high into his opponents backhand – a bit disgusted by it, he stood upright (not much difference from his crouched stance in fairness) and according to his opponent seemed to look away from the table. Dariusz returned the ball although there was a pause by him, Greig played another shot, Dariusz got that one back, before Greig played another shot and Dariusz pushed one in the net. Point to Greig? His opponent said he thought Greig was distracted and thought that a let was going to be called. The controversy is what happened next. Greig offered to replay the point! What? Are you kidding? What’s happened to him. In a fifth end against the player that went on to win the Event. Of course, he wasn’t that happy when he lost the replayed point – and the final score in the fifth end – yip you guessed it 11-9 to Dariusz! Despite him agreeing to the let, that didn’t stop him from moaning at the umpire about it!! Wonders will never cease – Greig avoiding controversy – he must have been in a fantastic mood - he played Keith Dingwall later in the day and that match ended without a cross word either!
On we go to Week 16.
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