Week 9 of the Edinburgh & Lothians Table Tennis League saw all of the Club's five teams in action.
With two matches in three days, the 1st Team of Greig McDonell, Colin Green and Iain Johnstone knew that a couple of good results would ease the mounting pressure which had built as a result of only 1 win in their previous 6 league matches. Their first match of the week saw the trio travel to face Edinburgh International 2 in a must win encounter. For the first time this season, both Greig and Colin played well in the same match as they won all three of their singles matches and combined for a win in the doubles for an excellent 7-3 victory. Two days later North Merchiston 2 visited Ladywood. The fixture saw the return to the Club of David Melrose, now playing for North Merchiston. Could David come back to haunt his former teammates? Iain, had been extremely disappointed by his performance against Edinburgh International and went into the first match of the night low in confidence against North Merchiston’s Number 2, Eddie Scott. His win in five ends, however, was a real boost and set the tone for the night. David found both Greig and Colin too strong as they both continued their excellent week winning all three of their singles and again combining for a win in the doubles. The resulting 8-2 victory and 4 points in a week sees the 1st Team jump 3 places in the Division and provides some breathing space over the teams below.
In Division 2, the 2nd Team faced a home tie against Murrayfield 6. In the continued absence of Ian Woodyer, the 2nd Team called up John Bald who provided excellent support to Clive Liddiard and Brian Bailey. Clive continued his amazing run of form as his 100% individual record remained intact with a further 3 singles wins. Brian and John both won 2 and with Clive and John winning the doubles the home team ran out easy 8-2 winners.
Penicuik 3 faced a tricky away encounter at West Lothian 5. The 3rd Team of James Wighton, Gary McDougal and Abby Wighton were determined to keep up the pressure on Penicuik’s 2nd Team at the top of the Division. With both Gary and James winning two and Abby contributing with 1 win, the crucial match of the night turned out to be the doubles fixture. The father and daughter team of James and Abby joined forces in what turned out to be an epic encounter. Having lost the first end, James and Abby rallied to win the next two to only for West Lothian to win the 4th end and tie the game at 2-2. In the deciding fifth end, James and Abby managed to hold their nerve as they won the decider by 11 points to 9 thus maintaining the 3rd team’s undefeated start to the season with a terrific 6-4 win.
There was further good news for Penicuik’s 2 representatives in Division 2 as their closest challengers, Edinburgh International 5 slipped up with a 5-5 draw leaving the Penicuik teams two points clear at the top of the Division. The 3rd Team still hold the advantage however with a game in hand on their more senior Clubmates.
After an excellent 9-1 win last week, Penicuik 4 were looking to record back to back victories for the first time this season as they faced a home tie against Corstorphine 6. In to the team this week came Krzysztof Laszkiewicz to join forces with Tony Brentnall and Gavin Hunter. After an excellent doubles win for Gavin and Tony, the match looked over with Penicuik holding a 5-2 lead but after Kris lost narrowly in five ends to his opposite number and Tony then lost to Corstorphine’s undefeated JP Smith, suddenly the pressure was all on Gavin as he played the final match of the night. Gavin proved too strong for his opponent winning in four ends to give the home side a nervy, but well deserved, 6-4 victory. A great couple of weeks for the 4th Team has seen them jump into 5th place with only a poorer game difference keeping them out of 3rd place.
The only blight on an otherwise excellent week for the Club came in Division 4 as Penicuik’s new 5th Team hosted West Lothian. The inexperience of Kathryn McKenzie, Louis Myatt and Lewis Baldock showed as they came up against far more experienced opponents. All three of Penicuik’s youngsters found the match hard going but in the final match, Kathryn produced the performance of the night as she won an excellent deciding end against Ros Beck as the 5th Team went down to a 9-1 defeat.
With two matches in three days, the 1st Team of Greig McDonell, Colin Green and Iain Johnstone knew that a couple of good results would ease the mounting pressure which had built as a result of only 1 win in their previous 6 league matches. Their first match of the week saw the trio travel to face Edinburgh International 2 in a must win encounter. For the first time this season, both Greig and Colin played well in the same match as they won all three of their singles matches and combined for a win in the doubles for an excellent 7-3 victory. Two days later North Merchiston 2 visited Ladywood. The fixture saw the return to the Club of David Melrose, now playing for North Merchiston. Could David come back to haunt his former teammates? Iain, had been extremely disappointed by his performance against Edinburgh International and went into the first match of the night low in confidence against North Merchiston’s Number 2, Eddie Scott. His win in five ends, however, was a real boost and set the tone for the night. David found both Greig and Colin too strong as they both continued their excellent week winning all three of their singles and again combining for a win in the doubles. The resulting 8-2 victory and 4 points in a week sees the 1st Team jump 3 places in the Division and provides some breathing space over the teams below.
In Division 2, the 2nd Team faced a home tie against Murrayfield 6. In the continued absence of Ian Woodyer, the 2nd Team called up John Bald who provided excellent support to Clive Liddiard and Brian Bailey. Clive continued his amazing run of form as his 100% individual record remained intact with a further 3 singles wins. Brian and John both won 2 and with Clive and John winning the doubles the home team ran out easy 8-2 winners.
Penicuik 3 faced a tricky away encounter at West Lothian 5. The 3rd Team of James Wighton, Gary McDougal and Abby Wighton were determined to keep up the pressure on Penicuik’s 2nd Team at the top of the Division. With both Gary and James winning two and Abby contributing with 1 win, the crucial match of the night turned out to be the doubles fixture. The father and daughter team of James and Abby joined forces in what turned out to be an epic encounter. Having lost the first end, James and Abby rallied to win the next two to only for West Lothian to win the 4th end and tie the game at 2-2. In the deciding fifth end, James and Abby managed to hold their nerve as they won the decider by 11 points to 9 thus maintaining the 3rd team’s undefeated start to the season with a terrific 6-4 win.
There was further good news for Penicuik’s 2 representatives in Division 2 as their closest challengers, Edinburgh International 5 slipped up with a 5-5 draw leaving the Penicuik teams two points clear at the top of the Division. The 3rd Team still hold the advantage however with a game in hand on their more senior Clubmates.
After an excellent 9-1 win last week, Penicuik 4 were looking to record back to back victories for the first time this season as they faced a home tie against Corstorphine 6. In to the team this week came Krzysztof Laszkiewicz to join forces with Tony Brentnall and Gavin Hunter. After an excellent doubles win for Gavin and Tony, the match looked over with Penicuik holding a 5-2 lead but after Kris lost narrowly in five ends to his opposite number and Tony then lost to Corstorphine’s undefeated JP Smith, suddenly the pressure was all on Gavin as he played the final match of the night. Gavin proved too strong for his opponent winning in four ends to give the home side a nervy, but well deserved, 6-4 victory. A great couple of weeks for the 4th Team has seen them jump into 5th place with only a poorer game difference keeping them out of 3rd place.
The only blight on an otherwise excellent week for the Club came in Division 4 as Penicuik’s new 5th Team hosted West Lothian. The inexperience of Kathryn McKenzie, Louis Myatt and Lewis Baldock showed as they came up against far more experienced opponents. All three of Penicuik’s youngsters found the match hard going but in the final match, Kathryn produced the performance of the night as she won an excellent deciding end against Ros Beck as the 5th Team went down to a 9-1 defeat.
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