Week 10 of the Edinburgh & Lothians League saw five of the Club's seven teams in action.
In Division 1, Penicuik 2 faced an away match against Edinburgh International 3. When the visitors lost 4 of the first 5 matches of the night it looked like being a bad night for Iain Johnstone, Clive Liddiard and Brian Bailey. A win for Iain was then followed by an important doubles victory as he combined with Clive to reduce the deficit to 4-3. Brian lost match 8 before Clive won his final match of the night leaving Iain to try and win match 10 and secure a point for the visitors. The final match went the distance but Iain held his nerve to win the deciding end 11-8 and with that salvaged a 5-5 draw.
In Division 2 Team 3 followed up a 10-0 win in week 9 with another convincing win in Week 10 against West Lothian 5. The result was all the more impressive as the team were without regular Gary McDougal. Krzysztof Laszkiewicz deputised and he, James Wighton and Abby Wighton were all undefeated in singles play, the only blip on the night being a loss in the doubles as the Penicuik trio recorded an excellent 9-1 victory.
Penicuik 4 have had a terrible run over the last few weeks and confidence was low as they faced an away match against Edinburgh Sports Club in Division 2. At 4-2 down the visitors knew a doubles victory was essential and Krzysztof and Chris Markey secured that win in five tight ends. They both then won their final singles matches as Team 4 stopped the rot after 3 straight defeats securing a 5-5 draw. Chris was undefeated on the night for the visitors.
In Division 3 Team 5's horrendous run of results unfortunately continued in their home fixture against Haddington 2. After being 2-0 down, the home side looked to have turned the match around after 4 consecutive wins gave them a 4-2 lead but then John Bald, Phil Daly and Louis Myatt lost the last 4 matches of the night as they fell to a disappointing 6-4 defeat. John won 2 whilst Phil and Louis both won 1.
Finally in a week of very close matches for the Club, Penicuik 7 were also on the wrong end of a 6-4 scoreline in their home match against Edinburgh University 5. Marcin Mroz, Louis McLeod and Rachel Petrie will rue a couple of matches where they had winning chances as Team 7's poor run in Division 4 continued. Marcin led the way for the home trio with 3 wins on the night but only Louis was able to contribute another win as Team 7 lost their sixth consecutive match.
Player of the Week award for Week 10? Five players undefeated in singles play this week - Iain, James, Abby, Chris and Marcin. Only two of them were undefeated when the doubles are added into the equation, Iain was one of those but for the importance of stopping a losing run the award this week goes to Team 4's Chris Markey. Well done Chris.
And finally our controversy of the week section - One of the writer's pet hates is seeing players (or spectators) getting so vocally involved in matches that virtually every point won deserves a scream of delight or the dreaded "Cho" - it's not even a word is it? Even sadder to see this being fairly prevalent at the Scottish Primary Schools Championships today in Bathgate - certainly amongst the top boys. In one match there was an almost "mob like" mentality amongst the players and their teammates who seemed to want to out do each other in the "encouragement stakes"! Really? Is this type of behaviour necessary? Cho. Cho. Cho. Wait a minute that was a lucky net; an edge; a mistake from the opponent - it matters not it seems! Surely at this level the coaches should be trying to cut that out of the game - or the referee? They don't and all that does is provide the kids watching with the green light to act like that themselves when they're playing. Of course maybe it's just part of the game now and I'm an old fuddy-duddy?? No need for anyone to respond - that was a rhetorical question!!!
Roll on Week 11....
In Division 1, Penicuik 2 faced an away match against Edinburgh International 3. When the visitors lost 4 of the first 5 matches of the night it looked like being a bad night for Iain Johnstone, Clive Liddiard and Brian Bailey. A win for Iain was then followed by an important doubles victory as he combined with Clive to reduce the deficit to 4-3. Brian lost match 8 before Clive won his final match of the night leaving Iain to try and win match 10 and secure a point for the visitors. The final match went the distance but Iain held his nerve to win the deciding end 11-8 and with that salvaged a 5-5 draw.
In Division 2 Team 3 followed up a 10-0 win in week 9 with another convincing win in Week 10 against West Lothian 5. The result was all the more impressive as the team were without regular Gary McDougal. Krzysztof Laszkiewicz deputised and he, James Wighton and Abby Wighton were all undefeated in singles play, the only blip on the night being a loss in the doubles as the Penicuik trio recorded an excellent 9-1 victory.
Penicuik 4 have had a terrible run over the last few weeks and confidence was low as they faced an away match against Edinburgh Sports Club in Division 2. At 4-2 down the visitors knew a doubles victory was essential and Krzysztof and Chris Markey secured that win in five tight ends. They both then won their final singles matches as Team 4 stopped the rot after 3 straight defeats securing a 5-5 draw. Chris was undefeated on the night for the visitors.
In Division 3 Team 5's horrendous run of results unfortunately continued in their home fixture against Haddington 2. After being 2-0 down, the home side looked to have turned the match around after 4 consecutive wins gave them a 4-2 lead but then John Bald, Phil Daly and Louis Myatt lost the last 4 matches of the night as they fell to a disappointing 6-4 defeat. John won 2 whilst Phil and Louis both won 1.
Finally in a week of very close matches for the Club, Penicuik 7 were also on the wrong end of a 6-4 scoreline in their home match against Edinburgh University 5. Marcin Mroz, Louis McLeod and Rachel Petrie will rue a couple of matches where they had winning chances as Team 7's poor run in Division 4 continued. Marcin led the way for the home trio with 3 wins on the night but only Louis was able to contribute another win as Team 7 lost their sixth consecutive match.
Player of the Week award for Week 10? Five players undefeated in singles play this week - Iain, James, Abby, Chris and Marcin. Only two of them were undefeated when the doubles are added into the equation, Iain was one of those but for the importance of stopping a losing run the award this week goes to Team 4's Chris Markey. Well done Chris.
And finally our controversy of the week section - One of the writer's pet hates is seeing players (or spectators) getting so vocally involved in matches that virtually every point won deserves a scream of delight or the dreaded "Cho" - it's not even a word is it? Even sadder to see this being fairly prevalent at the Scottish Primary Schools Championships today in Bathgate - certainly amongst the top boys. In one match there was an almost "mob like" mentality amongst the players and their teammates who seemed to want to out do each other in the "encouragement stakes"! Really? Is this type of behaviour necessary? Cho. Cho. Cho. Wait a minute that was a lucky net; an edge; a mistake from the opponent - it matters not it seems! Surely at this level the coaches should be trying to cut that out of the game - or the referee? They don't and all that does is provide the kids watching with the green light to act like that themselves when they're playing. Of course maybe it's just part of the game now and I'm an old fuddy-duddy?? No need for anyone to respond - that was a rhetorical question!!!
Roll on Week 11....
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