The final week of the 2014/15 season saw Penicuik's 2nd Team face an important play-off match with a place in Division 1 next season up for grabs. A 2nd place finish in Division 2 saw Penicuik travel to face a strong Corstorphine side who had finished 2nd bottom of Division 1. Before the match started there was a change in the lineup for the visitors as 3rd player Brian Bailey had to pull out due to injury. James Wighton was the able replacement as he joined regulars Clive Liddiard and Tony Brentnall.
On paper the match looked like it would be a difficult one against a team who for the previous two seasons had easily secured mid-table finishes in Division 1. The Penicuik trio knew it was important to build some early pressure on their hosts (Dave Hall, Kenny Fraser & Angel Georgier) and to get off to a good start. It was no surprise therefore that Clive played in the first match of the night against Angel. In an extremely tight affair, Clive saved a couple of match points in end four to force a deciding fifth end but he couldn't find his killer backhand often enough as Angel played some great attacking table tennis as he gave his side the perfect start with an 11-7 deciding end win. Match 2 saw James take on Dave and although all three ends were close, Dave's experience told as he gave Corstorphine a 2-0 advantage. Tony then faced Kenny with the difference being Kenny's ability to play the important points better - 3-0 down and in real trouble.
The battle of the two number ones then took place between Clive and Dave. Another five ender for Clive but this time he held on in the fifth for an important win to give hope to the visitors by reducing the match deficit to 3-1. Any hope of a comeback for the Penicuik side was short lived, however, as first Tony then James both lost in four ends to give the home side an unassailable 5-1 advantage. The visitors needed to somehow turn the night around and win all the remaining fixtures to salvage a draw.
Unfortunately for Penicuik the night came to a premature end as Corstorphine's doubles duo of Dave and Angel comfortably got the better of James and Clive to give the home side a 6-1 victory in what was a very disappointing night for the Penicuik side. Team Captain, Brian Bailey commented after the match "We simply never got going". Attention for the team now turns to next season and having finished in such a strong position in Division 2 this season, the Team will be looking to go one better next year and gain automatic promotion to Division 1.
A little look away from Penicuik at the Premier/Div 1 playoff match with some "Penicuik interest" as our former Team mate Ian Johnston's University side took on Edinburgh Sports Club. In what must be one of the cruelest ways to lose out ESC came back to salvage a draw but in match 10 of the night University's Kirsten Atkinson won 1 end which on count back proved to be the difference between the teams with that end resulting in University retaining their Premier League status for next season. What a way to miss out on promotion!!!
Season virtually over - only Club Championship remains to be dealt with next week.
On paper the match looked like it would be a difficult one against a team who for the previous two seasons had easily secured mid-table finishes in Division 1. The Penicuik trio knew it was important to build some early pressure on their hosts (Dave Hall, Kenny Fraser & Angel Georgier) and to get off to a good start. It was no surprise therefore that Clive played in the first match of the night against Angel. In an extremely tight affair, Clive saved a couple of match points in end four to force a deciding fifth end but he couldn't find his killer backhand often enough as Angel played some great attacking table tennis as he gave his side the perfect start with an 11-7 deciding end win. Match 2 saw James take on Dave and although all three ends were close, Dave's experience told as he gave Corstorphine a 2-0 advantage. Tony then faced Kenny with the difference being Kenny's ability to play the important points better - 3-0 down and in real trouble.
The battle of the two number ones then took place between Clive and Dave. Another five ender for Clive but this time he held on in the fifth for an important win to give hope to the visitors by reducing the match deficit to 3-1. Any hope of a comeback for the Penicuik side was short lived, however, as first Tony then James both lost in four ends to give the home side an unassailable 5-1 advantage. The visitors needed to somehow turn the night around and win all the remaining fixtures to salvage a draw.
Unfortunately for Penicuik the night came to a premature end as Corstorphine's doubles duo of Dave and Angel comfortably got the better of James and Clive to give the home side a 6-1 victory in what was a very disappointing night for the Penicuik side. Team Captain, Brian Bailey commented after the match "We simply never got going". Attention for the team now turns to next season and having finished in such a strong position in Division 2 this season, the Team will be looking to go one better next year and gain automatic promotion to Division 1.
A little look away from Penicuik at the Premier/Div 1 playoff match with some "Penicuik interest" as our former Team mate Ian Johnston's University side took on Edinburgh Sports Club. In what must be one of the cruelest ways to lose out ESC came back to salvage a draw but in match 10 of the night University's Kirsten Atkinson won 1 end which on count back proved to be the difference between the teams with that end resulting in University retaining their Premier League status for next season. What a way to miss out on promotion!!!
Season virtually over - only Club Championship remains to be dealt with next week.
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