Week 19 of the Edinburgh & Lothians Table Tennis League saw all five of Penicuik's teams in action.
After three points out of four in their last two matches in the Premier Division, Penicuik's 1st team of Greig McDonell, Colin Green and Iain Johnstone faced a tricky away fixture against North Merchiston 2. When the home side raced into a 3-1 lead it looked like being a disappointing night for the visitors but tight 5 end wins for Greig and Colin in games 5 and 6 drew the match level. The same pair then combined for what proved to be a crucial doubles win to give the visitors the lead for the first time. Colin then won his final match of the night against Geoff Hunter to put the visitors 5-3 up but a defeat for Iain at the hands of ex-Penicuik player David Melrose, who also took the scalp of Colin earlier in the night left the result in Greig's hands as he faced Matthias Maasch in the final game of the night. Greig held his nerve winning in three straight ends thus securing a vital two points for the visitors. Greig won his three singles matches on the night and combined with Colin, who won two singles, for the doubles win, in an excellent 6-4 victory.
The battle at the top of Division 2 between Penicuik's 2nd and 3rd Teams continued with both teams in action last week. On paper the 2nd Team of Clive Liddiard, Brian Bailey and Tony Brentnall faced what appeared to be the more difficult task as they travelled to third placed Edinburgh International. When the first four games of the night were shared it looked as if the match was going to be an extremely tight affair but from that point on the Penicuik trio hit top form as they won the final six games of the night for an excellent 8-2 victory. Clive and Tony did most of the damage winning all three of their singles matches whilst Brian won 1 singles and combined for a doubles win with Clive.
The attention then turned to Penicuik 3's match against Murrayfield 7. James Wighton, Gary McDougal and Abby Wighton were looking to bounce back after their dropped point the previous week. The Penicuik trio got off to a poor start and were 4-2 down going into the vital doubles match which saw James and Gary team up for the home side. When the home side lost that match in 4 ends, they knew that the final three games of the night had to go their way for a draw. The youngsters of Murrayfield had other ideas winning two of those last three games for a resounding 7-3 win, a defeat for the 3rd Team which brought to an end their undefeated record. The major winners on the night were Penicuik 2 who for the first time this season now sit top of Division 2, on the same points total as their Clubmates but with a slightly better game difference. With six matches left for both teams the race is well and truly on for the title.
In Division 3 Penicuik 4 hosted Edinburgh Sports Club and Gavin Hunter, Krzysztof Laszkiewicz and John Bald were never troubled as they ran out comfortable 9-1 winners. Gavin and Krzysztof both won their 3 singles and combined for a win in the doubles whilst John won 2. The win puts the 4th Team two points behind 2nd placed West Lothian and still in with a real chance of finishing second in the Division with 5 matches remaining.
Finally, in Division 4, Penicuik 5 travelled to face top of the league North Merchiston 4. Penicuik's youngsters of Lewis Baldock and Louis McLeod were joined by the more experienced Gregory Leplatre in what always looked like being a difficult match. Gregory was the only winner for the visitors as the league leaders recorded an 8-2 win but special mention is due to Lewis who was extremely unlucky on the night losing two of his three singles matches in very close deciding ends.
After three points out of four in their last two matches in the Premier Division, Penicuik's 1st team of Greig McDonell, Colin Green and Iain Johnstone faced a tricky away fixture against North Merchiston 2. When the home side raced into a 3-1 lead it looked like being a disappointing night for the visitors but tight 5 end wins for Greig and Colin in games 5 and 6 drew the match level. The same pair then combined for what proved to be a crucial doubles win to give the visitors the lead for the first time. Colin then won his final match of the night against Geoff Hunter to put the visitors 5-3 up but a defeat for Iain at the hands of ex-Penicuik player David Melrose, who also took the scalp of Colin earlier in the night left the result in Greig's hands as he faced Matthias Maasch in the final game of the night. Greig held his nerve winning in three straight ends thus securing a vital two points for the visitors. Greig won his three singles matches on the night and combined with Colin, who won two singles, for the doubles win, in an excellent 6-4 victory.
The battle at the top of Division 2 between Penicuik's 2nd and 3rd Teams continued with both teams in action last week. On paper the 2nd Team of Clive Liddiard, Brian Bailey and Tony Brentnall faced what appeared to be the more difficult task as they travelled to third placed Edinburgh International. When the first four games of the night were shared it looked as if the match was going to be an extremely tight affair but from that point on the Penicuik trio hit top form as they won the final six games of the night for an excellent 8-2 victory. Clive and Tony did most of the damage winning all three of their singles matches whilst Brian won 1 singles and combined for a doubles win with Clive.
The attention then turned to Penicuik 3's match against Murrayfield 7. James Wighton, Gary McDougal and Abby Wighton were looking to bounce back after their dropped point the previous week. The Penicuik trio got off to a poor start and were 4-2 down going into the vital doubles match which saw James and Gary team up for the home side. When the home side lost that match in 4 ends, they knew that the final three games of the night had to go their way for a draw. The youngsters of Murrayfield had other ideas winning two of those last three games for a resounding 7-3 win, a defeat for the 3rd Team which brought to an end their undefeated record. The major winners on the night were Penicuik 2 who for the first time this season now sit top of Division 2, on the same points total as their Clubmates but with a slightly better game difference. With six matches left for both teams the race is well and truly on for the title.
In Division 3 Penicuik 4 hosted Edinburgh Sports Club and Gavin Hunter, Krzysztof Laszkiewicz and John Bald were never troubled as they ran out comfortable 9-1 winners. Gavin and Krzysztof both won their 3 singles and combined for a win in the doubles whilst John won 2. The win puts the 4th Team two points behind 2nd placed West Lothian and still in with a real chance of finishing second in the Division with 5 matches remaining.
Finally, in Division 4, Penicuik 5 travelled to face top of the league North Merchiston 4. Penicuik's youngsters of Lewis Baldock and Louis McLeod were joined by the more experienced Gregory Leplatre in what always looked like being a difficult match. Gregory was the only winner for the visitors as the league leaders recorded an 8-2 win but special mention is due to Lewis who was extremely unlucky on the night losing two of his three singles matches in very close deciding ends.
Penicuik 5 v North Merchiston 4
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