Only 4 matches for the Club in Week 7 of the Edinburgh League which started off on Wednesday as Team 1 faced their trickiest match of the season so far with a visit to a very strong Edinburgh International side.
The teams were well matched and last season and finished just two points apart at the end of the season. Colin Green, Peter Aird and Ryan Docherty faced Marek Domagala, Debjit Choudry and fresh from his victory in the over 50s at the Vets Assessment tournament, new recruit for EI, Dariusz Szymczak. Marek v Colin was first up and no surprise that this match went the distance. From 2-1 down Colin showed his fighting spirit ultimately winning 11-5 in the fifth. Dariusz was then too strong for Peter, but the Penicuik lead was restored when Ryan secured a straight sets victory against Debjit. Colin v Dariusz was a classic – the home player won the first 13-11, back came Colin to win the next two 11-9, 13-11 before Dariusz levelled the game with a comfortable 11-6 win in the fourth. It was fitting that the match went all the way to deuce in the decider – Colin held his nerve for a fantastic 12-10 win, and the visitors had a two-game advantage. Marek v Ryan was equally as tight, also going to a decider, this time Marek winning it 11-9 in the fifth and when Debjit defeated Peter it was back to all square at 3-3. Colin and Ryan are a formidable doubles combo, but their 3-0 win was tighter than it seems on paper – 12-10, 11-9 and then an unbelievable 19-17 win in the third – advantage Penicuik. Back came EI as Dariusz defeated Ryan before Colin completed a brilliant night for himself to secure a point for Penicuik. It was probably fitting that Marek secured a draw with his four-end win v Peter. A terrific match and probably a fair 5-5 draw.
At Ladywood on Wednesday Team 6 faced Haddington in Division 5. John Grant, Stuart Bennett and Ian Miller took to the table for the hosts. Stuart was the only winner for the hosts in the first set of three singles as they fell 2-1 behind. The hosts looked in difficulty when John was the only winner in the second set of three, 4-2 down and in trouble – the crucial doubles went the way of John and Stuart to keep the hosts in the contest and when Stuart held his nerve to win a mammoth match 8, 11-9 in the fifth, the match was level for the first time since the start of the night. Ian lost to the Haddington undefeated number 1, but John secured a point with an excellent win in match 10. Another 5-5 result for the Club and again probably a fair point for each club in the end.
With two 5-5 draws, could Team 4 go one better as they hosted Corstorphine 3 at home. Aidan Craig, Jay Jayalath and Chamika Diyunugalge were in action for the hosts, and they got off to the perfect start as all three players won their openers in straight sets. After the next three singles the match was over – three more wins for the home side, although Aidan was pushed to five ends. 6-0 up as they entered the doubles fixture, and Jay and Chamika will be kicking themselves as they fell to a 12-10 fifth end loss. The hosts finished strongly, however, with two wins out of the final three singles for an excellent 8-2 win. Aidan and Jay were both undefeated in singles play and the Team’s fifth win of the season maintained their unblemished start to their division 3 campaign. Another cracking night for Aidan as he continued his brilliant start to the season.
The week ended with Penicuik 5s trip to Heriot-Watt on Friday night. Rachel Petrie, Iain Caddell and Mat Dyluk made the trip to the Oriam whilst Team Captain Roscoe stayed at home and scared the residents of Penicuik with his Halloween guising. In the end it was Team 5 who got more of a fright with the standard of the Heriot-Watt students – Iain was the only Penicuik player to pick up an end on a difficult night for the visitors. If nothing else, the visitors were all tucked up in bed before Roscoe had finished scaring his neighbours – a quickfire 10-0 loss but in fairness the three HW players all had significantly higher ratings than the Penicuik trio.
And so, to our Player of the Week Award for Week 7. There were three undefeated players this week – Colin, Aidan and Jay. Each of them played some brilliant stuff. Aidan’s unbelievable start to the season continued – his fifteenth consecutive win kept him on 100% for the season. Jay’s undefeated night moved him into the top 10 in the individual averages, but this week’s award has to go to the man who in the top division finds himself undefeated after 9 games played – an undefeated night in singles and a win in the doubles in a 5-5 draw was super-impressive. Add to those facts that two of his wins were against the winner of the over 50’s and the runner-up in the 40s at last weekend’s vets' tournament and it’s even more impressive. And hold on a minute, a little birdie tells us he’s just had a big birthday and has moved up an age category himself! He showed those youngsters that he’s getting better with age – well done to Colin (and a belated Happy Birthday to him too) – a fantastic start to the 2025/26 League season.
Still no major issues have arisen in the League as far as we are aware but in Team 4s match this week there was a moment of controversy when one of the opposing team told Chamika and Jay that they couldn’t both give advice to Aidan at his change of ends in his second match of the night. Team 4 were told that only one player or the Non-Playing Captain as entered on the score card can do that. Team 4 didn’t dispute matters, because they didn’t know the rule, but after the match they sought clarity from others. Despite Teammate Ian thinking the opponent was right, we don’t think that is the case. The rule can be found in the Addendum to the Laws of Table Tennis on the ELTTL Website and it reads as follows:
"Only a fellow member of a player’s team for that fixture or nominated non-playing captain/coach may offer playing advice to a player once a fixture has commenced."
Our reading of that rule is that “a fellow player” is not limited to “one single” player and so both teammates in a three-man team can offer advice. And indeed, that is what we have seen and continue to see regularly in league matches, particularly if only one table is in action at the time. We think we recall that the rationale for this rule was to stop “third parties” getting involved in coaching advice if they are not involved in the match – so for example a couple of weeks ago, coach Hannah was playing at Edinburgh International, as was Team 6. She wandered over, fed up of watching James and her old dad play and gave some “advice” or was it just “encouragement” to the newbies of Team 6. Strictly speaking she should have been told to sling her hook – but then it was Hannah and everyone loves her – had it been either of her teammates the story may have been different!! And we can understand why others not involved in a specific match and not stated as NPC shouldn’t be able to get involved – but it is certainly our view that it was never intended to mean that your own teammates couldn’t combine to give a player advice.
Team 3 didn’t play last week but in their last match against Edinburgh University an issue arose in relation to that old chestnut of “service rules”. One of our players complained that the opponent was throwing the ball backwards on service but also hiding the ball behind either his free arm or body. Two issues in one! Super. It was a Penicuik player who was umpiring, and he was pointing out to us how difficult it was for him to see whether the ball was being hidden from the opponent or not. And of course we understand his point – he is sitting at the side of the table and where the player is serving, effectively with his back to the umpire, the umpire clearly has a very different view of what is going on than the opponent at the other end of the table.
The rule specifies that the ball shall not be hidden from the receiver and goes on to state that the server is responsible for ensuring that the umpire can be satisfied that he/she is complying with the rule! Of course, these are the ITTF Laws which also mention an assistant umpire and, in that scenario, either the umpire or the assistant is going to have a good view of what is going on – no such luxury in the Edinburgh League of course! In the end the player was warned about throwing the ball up “near vertical” and no action was taken about the “hiding the ball” with the player’s body – too difficult to call!
The fun continues as we move into Week 8.
The teams were well matched and last season and finished just two points apart at the end of the season. Colin Green, Peter Aird and Ryan Docherty faced Marek Domagala, Debjit Choudry and fresh from his victory in the over 50s at the Vets Assessment tournament, new recruit for EI, Dariusz Szymczak. Marek v Colin was first up and no surprise that this match went the distance. From 2-1 down Colin showed his fighting spirit ultimately winning 11-5 in the fifth. Dariusz was then too strong for Peter, but the Penicuik lead was restored when Ryan secured a straight sets victory against Debjit. Colin v Dariusz was a classic – the home player won the first 13-11, back came Colin to win the next two 11-9, 13-11 before Dariusz levelled the game with a comfortable 11-6 win in the fourth. It was fitting that the match went all the way to deuce in the decider – Colin held his nerve for a fantastic 12-10 win, and the visitors had a two-game advantage. Marek v Ryan was equally as tight, also going to a decider, this time Marek winning it 11-9 in the fifth and when Debjit defeated Peter it was back to all square at 3-3. Colin and Ryan are a formidable doubles combo, but their 3-0 win was tighter than it seems on paper – 12-10, 11-9 and then an unbelievable 19-17 win in the third – advantage Penicuik. Back came EI as Dariusz defeated Ryan before Colin completed a brilliant night for himself to secure a point for Penicuik. It was probably fitting that Marek secured a draw with his four-end win v Peter. A terrific match and probably a fair 5-5 draw.
At Ladywood on Wednesday Team 6 faced Haddington in Division 5. John Grant, Stuart Bennett and Ian Miller took to the table for the hosts. Stuart was the only winner for the hosts in the first set of three singles as they fell 2-1 behind. The hosts looked in difficulty when John was the only winner in the second set of three, 4-2 down and in trouble – the crucial doubles went the way of John and Stuart to keep the hosts in the contest and when Stuart held his nerve to win a mammoth match 8, 11-9 in the fifth, the match was level for the first time since the start of the night. Ian lost to the Haddington undefeated number 1, but John secured a point with an excellent win in match 10. Another 5-5 result for the Club and again probably a fair point for each club in the end.
With two 5-5 draws, could Team 4 go one better as they hosted Corstorphine 3 at home. Aidan Craig, Jay Jayalath and Chamika Diyunugalge were in action for the hosts, and they got off to the perfect start as all three players won their openers in straight sets. After the next three singles the match was over – three more wins for the home side, although Aidan was pushed to five ends. 6-0 up as they entered the doubles fixture, and Jay and Chamika will be kicking themselves as they fell to a 12-10 fifth end loss. The hosts finished strongly, however, with two wins out of the final three singles for an excellent 8-2 win. Aidan and Jay were both undefeated in singles play and the Team’s fifth win of the season maintained their unblemished start to their division 3 campaign. Another cracking night for Aidan as he continued his brilliant start to the season.
The week ended with Penicuik 5s trip to Heriot-Watt on Friday night. Rachel Petrie, Iain Caddell and Mat Dyluk made the trip to the Oriam whilst Team Captain Roscoe stayed at home and scared the residents of Penicuik with his Halloween guising. In the end it was Team 5 who got more of a fright with the standard of the Heriot-Watt students – Iain was the only Penicuik player to pick up an end on a difficult night for the visitors. If nothing else, the visitors were all tucked up in bed before Roscoe had finished scaring his neighbours – a quickfire 10-0 loss but in fairness the three HW players all had significantly higher ratings than the Penicuik trio.
And so, to our Player of the Week Award for Week 7. There were three undefeated players this week – Colin, Aidan and Jay. Each of them played some brilliant stuff. Aidan’s unbelievable start to the season continued – his fifteenth consecutive win kept him on 100% for the season. Jay’s undefeated night moved him into the top 10 in the individual averages, but this week’s award has to go to the man who in the top division finds himself undefeated after 9 games played – an undefeated night in singles and a win in the doubles in a 5-5 draw was super-impressive. Add to those facts that two of his wins were against the winner of the over 50’s and the runner-up in the 40s at last weekend’s vets' tournament and it’s even more impressive. And hold on a minute, a little birdie tells us he’s just had a big birthday and has moved up an age category himself! He showed those youngsters that he’s getting better with age – well done to Colin (and a belated Happy Birthday to him too) – a fantastic start to the 2025/26 League season.
Still no major issues have arisen in the League as far as we are aware but in Team 4s match this week there was a moment of controversy when one of the opposing team told Chamika and Jay that they couldn’t both give advice to Aidan at his change of ends in his second match of the night. Team 4 were told that only one player or the Non-Playing Captain as entered on the score card can do that. Team 4 didn’t dispute matters, because they didn’t know the rule, but after the match they sought clarity from others. Despite Teammate Ian thinking the opponent was right, we don’t think that is the case. The rule can be found in the Addendum to the Laws of Table Tennis on the ELTTL Website and it reads as follows:
"Only a fellow member of a player’s team for that fixture or nominated non-playing captain/coach may offer playing advice to a player once a fixture has commenced."
Our reading of that rule is that “a fellow player” is not limited to “one single” player and so both teammates in a three-man team can offer advice. And indeed, that is what we have seen and continue to see regularly in league matches, particularly if only one table is in action at the time. We think we recall that the rationale for this rule was to stop “third parties” getting involved in coaching advice if they are not involved in the match – so for example a couple of weeks ago, coach Hannah was playing at Edinburgh International, as was Team 6. She wandered over, fed up of watching James and her old dad play and gave some “advice” or was it just “encouragement” to the newbies of Team 6. Strictly speaking she should have been told to sling her hook – but then it was Hannah and everyone loves her – had it been either of her teammates the story may have been different!! And we can understand why others not involved in a specific match and not stated as NPC shouldn’t be able to get involved – but it is certainly our view that it was never intended to mean that your own teammates couldn’t combine to give a player advice.
Team 3 didn’t play last week but in their last match against Edinburgh University an issue arose in relation to that old chestnut of “service rules”. One of our players complained that the opponent was throwing the ball backwards on service but also hiding the ball behind either his free arm or body. Two issues in one! Super. It was a Penicuik player who was umpiring, and he was pointing out to us how difficult it was for him to see whether the ball was being hidden from the opponent or not. And of course we understand his point – he is sitting at the side of the table and where the player is serving, effectively with his back to the umpire, the umpire clearly has a very different view of what is going on than the opponent at the other end of the table.
The rule specifies that the ball shall not be hidden from the receiver and goes on to state that the server is responsible for ensuring that the umpire can be satisfied that he/she is complying with the rule! Of course, these are the ITTF Laws which also mention an assistant umpire and, in that scenario, either the umpire or the assistant is going to have a good view of what is going on – no such luxury in the Edinburgh League of course! In the end the player was warned about throwing the ball up “near vertical” and no action was taken about the “hiding the ball” with the player’s body – too difficult to call!
The fun continues as we move into Week 8.
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