The first round of action after the festive break saw all 7 of the Club's teams in action.
In the Premier Division Team 1 were without Stuart Gow as they took on an even more understrength West Lothian 1 at Ladywood. Greig McDonell and Colin Green both won 2 and young Lewis Baldock, playing up from Division 4, defeated the individual with the worst record in the league - that guy Mr Walkover! The final match of the night was the doubles and WL knew that a win in that would secure an unlikely point but it wasn't to be for the visitors as Greig and Colin triumphed to secure a 6-4 victory.
Team 2 faced an away match at Corstorphine in Division 1 looking to reverse a 7-3 defeat from the first half of the season. With Brian Bailey having it in his head that he can't play on Corstorphine's hard floor (mind you his knees are 106 years old) Gary McDougal deputised from Division 2. He failed to contribute but was relieved to see Clive Liddiard and Iain Johnstone both go undefeated in singles play and combine for a good doubles win in the resultant 7-3 victory for Team 2.
In Division 2, Team 3 of James Wighton, Gary McDougal and Abby Wighton also faced Corstorphine opposition. Warmed up perhaps from his outing for Team 2 the previous night Gary was on top form as he won all 3 of his singles matches. James and Abby both won 2 and the only blight on Gary's night was a loss in the doubles although he claims that was James' fault! A 7-3 win for Team 3 keeps the pressure on league leaders Haddington at the top of the Division.
Team 4 were at full strength for the first time since October as they faced Murrayfield 6 in a rearranged fixture. It was good to see Tony Brentnall back from his injury layoff as he won 1 whilst Chris Markey won 2 and Krzysztof Laszkiewicz won 3 in a much needed 7-3 victory.
And so a terrific start to the New Year - 4 matches played and 4 victories - maybe we should just leave it there........
Team 5 welcomed a newcomer to the Team as Vikas Singla joined forces with John Bald and Louis Myatt in their home fixture against Fife 3 in Division 3. Team 5 have lost a number of matches by a 6-4 scoreline and going into the doubles fixture they found themselves 4-2 down. Vikas and John won the doubles and when Vikas recorded his 2nd singles win of the night in match 8 the scores were levelled at 4-4. History unfortunately repeated itself however as the last two matches were lost as the home side lost another by the narrowest of margins.
In Division 4, Teams 6 and 7 both faced Haddington opposition. Team 6's away match was an extremely tight affair and 3 five set matches were to prove the turning point on the night. In match 1 Sean Lennon lost 11-9 in the deciding end to Haddington's number 1. The doubles saw Sean and Stuart Bennett lose the decider 16-14 whilst match 8 saw Stuart lose a 2-0 advantage to lose in five ends. A victory in any of those games would have secured a point for the visitors but as it was Team 6 will be bitterly disappointed to come away with a 6-4 defeat. The match saw George Wilson make his debut for the Club playing up from Team 7 and he won 1 along with Stuart whilst Sean won 2.
The news was worse for Team 7 in their home fixture. 8 players registered and they played with 2 for the second time this season!! Rachel Petrie and Kathryn McKenzie were winless on the night as the home side suffered a 10-0 defeat.
And so to our first player of the week award of 2017. 4 players undefeated in singles this week - Iain, Clive, Gary and Krys with all but Gary also being successful in doubles but for the importance of his win this week's award goes to Lewis Baldock! He had the guts to play up in the Premier Division without hesitation, made the points target set by El Presidente in each of his two matches played and played with a smile on his face - he also now has huge bragging rights over the other division 4 players as he can say he won a match in the Premier Division - if it's good enough for Brian to count wins against Mr Walkover.......... Well done Lewis.
And finally our controversy of the week section. Quite a lot could be talked about this week but let's concentrate first on our own shortcomings - 8 players registered for Team 7 and the New Year starts with Kathryn and Rachel having to play a match without a third player - seriously??!! Whilst this seems to have been a genuine misunderstanding it does make us look pretty inept! The new year hasn't started any better than 2016 finished in terms of our ability to field full sides - Teams 1, 2, 6 and 7, for one reason or another, all fielded understrength sides last week!
The main talking point of the week however relates to that thorny subject of postponements. Team 1 received a request for a postponement from our friends at West Lothian. The fact that West Lothian 1 have refused two requests for postponements from us in the last two seasons wasn't the determining factor in our decision to refuse their request at 48 hours notice but truthfully it probably played a part. The major factor is that our Team 1 have played 11 matches this season and on only 4 occasions have they managed to field their full side - and indeed as indicated in our round-up last week they had to call on help from a Division 4 player. Whatever the problems were with our opponents, we have enough difficulties of our own fielding a full team to worry about trying to get three together for a rearranged match. Of course, it doesn't matter what reason is put forward to justify the refusal - those who are on the other side of such probably feel upset / angered / disappointed / bitter??? Probably a combination of all of those emotions. Such a refusal does nothing to foster good relations between the parties involved and of course what goes around comes around!
In the end of the day it's back to our point that we've made before - in an ideal world just do away with postponements altogether - we know the fixtures at the start of the season and we either play them or we don't! Too simplistic? Probably. But at least it doesn't then cause animosity between clubs and / or individuals - we're only now getting on better with Keith Dingwall from Murrayfield after he refused us a postponement in October 2015!!!!
Finally at the Vets Event today in Bathgate we were told about the recent health issues affecting Barrie Hills from the West Lothian Club. PTTC send our thoughts and best wishes to Barrie and his family at this time.
In the Premier Division Team 1 were without Stuart Gow as they took on an even more understrength West Lothian 1 at Ladywood. Greig McDonell and Colin Green both won 2 and young Lewis Baldock, playing up from Division 4, defeated the individual with the worst record in the league - that guy Mr Walkover! The final match of the night was the doubles and WL knew that a win in that would secure an unlikely point but it wasn't to be for the visitors as Greig and Colin triumphed to secure a 6-4 victory.
Team 2 faced an away match at Corstorphine in Division 1 looking to reverse a 7-3 defeat from the first half of the season. With Brian Bailey having it in his head that he can't play on Corstorphine's hard floor (mind you his knees are 106 years old) Gary McDougal deputised from Division 2. He failed to contribute but was relieved to see Clive Liddiard and Iain Johnstone both go undefeated in singles play and combine for a good doubles win in the resultant 7-3 victory for Team 2.
In Division 2, Team 3 of James Wighton, Gary McDougal and Abby Wighton also faced Corstorphine opposition. Warmed up perhaps from his outing for Team 2 the previous night Gary was on top form as he won all 3 of his singles matches. James and Abby both won 2 and the only blight on Gary's night was a loss in the doubles although he claims that was James' fault! A 7-3 win for Team 3 keeps the pressure on league leaders Haddington at the top of the Division.
Team 4 were at full strength for the first time since October as they faced Murrayfield 6 in a rearranged fixture. It was good to see Tony Brentnall back from his injury layoff as he won 1 whilst Chris Markey won 2 and Krzysztof Laszkiewicz won 3 in a much needed 7-3 victory.
And so a terrific start to the New Year - 4 matches played and 4 victories - maybe we should just leave it there........
Team 5 welcomed a newcomer to the Team as Vikas Singla joined forces with John Bald and Louis Myatt in their home fixture against Fife 3 in Division 3. Team 5 have lost a number of matches by a 6-4 scoreline and going into the doubles fixture they found themselves 4-2 down. Vikas and John won the doubles and when Vikas recorded his 2nd singles win of the night in match 8 the scores were levelled at 4-4. History unfortunately repeated itself however as the last two matches were lost as the home side lost another by the narrowest of margins.
In Division 4, Teams 6 and 7 both faced Haddington opposition. Team 6's away match was an extremely tight affair and 3 five set matches were to prove the turning point on the night. In match 1 Sean Lennon lost 11-9 in the deciding end to Haddington's number 1. The doubles saw Sean and Stuart Bennett lose the decider 16-14 whilst match 8 saw Stuart lose a 2-0 advantage to lose in five ends. A victory in any of those games would have secured a point for the visitors but as it was Team 6 will be bitterly disappointed to come away with a 6-4 defeat. The match saw George Wilson make his debut for the Club playing up from Team 7 and he won 1 along with Stuart whilst Sean won 2.
The news was worse for Team 7 in their home fixture. 8 players registered and they played with 2 for the second time this season!! Rachel Petrie and Kathryn McKenzie were winless on the night as the home side suffered a 10-0 defeat.
And so to our first player of the week award of 2017. 4 players undefeated in singles this week - Iain, Clive, Gary and Krys with all but Gary also being successful in doubles but for the importance of his win this week's award goes to Lewis Baldock! He had the guts to play up in the Premier Division without hesitation, made the points target set by El Presidente in each of his two matches played and played with a smile on his face - he also now has huge bragging rights over the other division 4 players as he can say he won a match in the Premier Division - if it's good enough for Brian to count wins against Mr Walkover.......... Well done Lewis.
And finally our controversy of the week section. Quite a lot could be talked about this week but let's concentrate first on our own shortcomings - 8 players registered for Team 7 and the New Year starts with Kathryn and Rachel having to play a match without a third player - seriously??!! Whilst this seems to have been a genuine misunderstanding it does make us look pretty inept! The new year hasn't started any better than 2016 finished in terms of our ability to field full sides - Teams 1, 2, 6 and 7, for one reason or another, all fielded understrength sides last week!
The main talking point of the week however relates to that thorny subject of postponements. Team 1 received a request for a postponement from our friends at West Lothian. The fact that West Lothian 1 have refused two requests for postponements from us in the last two seasons wasn't the determining factor in our decision to refuse their request at 48 hours notice but truthfully it probably played a part. The major factor is that our Team 1 have played 11 matches this season and on only 4 occasions have they managed to field their full side - and indeed as indicated in our round-up last week they had to call on help from a Division 4 player. Whatever the problems were with our opponents, we have enough difficulties of our own fielding a full team to worry about trying to get three together for a rearranged match. Of course, it doesn't matter what reason is put forward to justify the refusal - those who are on the other side of such probably feel upset / angered / disappointed / bitter??? Probably a combination of all of those emotions. Such a refusal does nothing to foster good relations between the parties involved and of course what goes around comes around!
In the end of the day it's back to our point that we've made before - in an ideal world just do away with postponements altogether - we know the fixtures at the start of the season and we either play them or we don't! Too simplistic? Probably. But at least it doesn't then cause animosity between clubs and / or individuals - we're only now getting on better with Keith Dingwall from Murrayfield after he refused us a postponement in October 2015!!!!
Finally at the Vets Event today in Bathgate we were told about the recent health issues affecting Barrie Hills from the West Lothian Club. PTTC send our thoughts and best wishes to Barrie and his family at this time.
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