
We have to start, however, with the match of the week - the Division 2 Derby between Teams 2 and 3. Team 2 are in the hunt for promotion whilst Team 3, although not “out of it” started the night 7 points behind the top 2 in the Division. Maybe Team 3 would do the sensible thing (for the Club) and roll over? Not a chance! Krzysztof Laszkiewicz, Gary McDougal and James Wighton took to the table for Team 2 with Craig Linton, Charlie Brindley and Kristian Skotzen out to cause havoc for Team 3, The first two matches started simultaneously and when Craig took the first set against Krzysztof, that was matched by Kristian taking the first set against James! Team 2 were already under the cosh. Credit to Krzysztof and James who battled back to both win in four ends and the perfect start was enjoyed by Team 2. The next two matches saw Charlie v Gary and Craig v James, also played simultaneously. Gary had chances in his match but fell to a four end defeat. James meanwhile got blootered 11-3 in the first end of his match but then found some consistency and at 9-5 up in the second he looked back in control – but hold on – suddenly it was 10-10 and with the help of a horrendous net followed by an edge, Craig took a 2-0 lead. James held a 9-5 lead in the third as well – surely history wasn’t going to repeat itself – Craig clawed his way back but on this occasion James just got over the line 11-9 and when he won the fourth 11-8 the momentum was with him. This match was destined to go the distance, and it was James who was left disappointed after an 11-9 fifth end loss. 2-2 and all to play for. Gary v Kristian was pivotal – after four close sets Gary was 7-3 up in the decider and in control – or so it seemed! Fast forward a few points and his lead was gone – another 11-9 win in the fifth for Team 3 as Kristian gave his side their first lead of the night. With spectators calling for the expedite system to come into effect, Krzysztof ground out a 4 end win v Charlie to make it level going into the doubles. James and Krzysztof v Craig and Kristian. James and Krzysztof were in trouble at 2-1 down and 8-5 down in the fourth but it was Team 2 this time that used their get out of jail free card to win the fourth 11-9 and force a decider. This was crucial and both sides knew it. Like many of the matches it went the distance and at 10-10 in the fifth fortune favoured the brave as James hit two winners, one cracking shot, one aided by a very fortunate net/edge combination – they all count though! Advantage Team 2. The topsy turvy contest continued as Craig defeated Gary to make it 4-4. Krzysztof v Kristian and James v Charlie to decide the match. Maybe fitting that no team lost this match – they’d put everything into it and a win for Krzysztof was cancelled out by a win for Charlie as the points were shared – tight, exciting, tense, nervy and at times bad tempered, but all were friends at the end (well almost)!
Away from the Derby, first up in Week 18 on Tuesday 28th January had been Team 4 of Rachel Petrie, Patrick Shanks and Chamika Diyunagalge - they travelled to take on 2nd place ESC in Division 3. This looked like a tough match – and so it proved to be. Chamika lost in straight sets to top of the individual averages, Dan Potter before Rachel was unlucky to lose out in five ends in Match 2. Patrick gave the visitors hope with a win in Match 3, but the next round of singles matches all went the way of the hosts as they stormed into a 5-1 lead entering the doubles. Rachel and Patrick had a go this week, but their straight sets defeat ended the match as a contest. Patrick picked up a good win in Match 9, but the visitors came away from Edinburgh having suffered an 8-2 defeat.
Team 1 have had an excellent start to 2025 to ease some of their relegation worries - Colin Green, Greig McDonell and Peter Aird took to the table against Edinburgh University. The first two matches were shared – a win for Colin in 4 ends and a four end loss for Greig. Peter looked in control in his first match but a 16-14 loss and a 12-10 loss in ends 2 and 4 sent the match to a decider. Daniel Titmas showed some terrific attacking play as he won in 5 and the pressure was really on the hosts. Matches 4, 5 and 6 produced 3-0 wins for all three home players as they took a 4-2 advantage into the doubles, and what a terrific doubles it was – the momentum was with the students after they forced a decider with an 11-3 fourth end win but Colin and Peter, aided by some good fortune, held their nerve for the win which secured a point for the hosts. Peter looked like he was going to secure both points as he won the first two ends of his final match 11-6, 11-6, but the talented Manas Arun turned the match around to win in five. Colin then secured the points with his third win of the night before Greig won the final match to give the hosts an excellent 7-3 victory.
Team 5 faced tricky opposition in Week 18 as they faced Dunbar in Division 4. The East Lothian outfit are chasing promotion and look fairly certain to finish in the top 2. Roscoe Cairney, John Bald and Jay Jayalath knew they were in trouble when their number 1, Jay lost the first match in straight sets. That was followed by a 3-0 defeat for Roscoe and a 3-1 loss for John. When Roscoe lost his second match the hosts found themselves 4-0 down – a miracle was needed to turn this match around – Jay won match 5 but that was as close as they got to a miracle recovery – the remaining ties all went the way of the East Lothian outfit who brought team 5 back down to earth after their recent impressive run with a 9-1 victory. The good news for Team 5, however, is that the three teams below them in the Division all lost in Week 18 so they remain 7 points clear of the team below them and 8 points clear of the relegation zone.
And so, to our Week 18 Player of the Week Award. Only two players had undefeated nights this week – Colin in Team 1’s 7-3 victory in the Premier Division and Krzysztof in Team 2’s tense 5-5 draw with Team 3. Both also contributed to important doubles wins. There’s no doubt that Krzysztof’s undefeated night was massively important to Team 2 securing a point – but Colin’s wins eased the pressure on Team 1 when it was becoming tight, and they too were hugely important. It seems the fairest way to resolve this one is to get the calculator out. Krzysztof played 16 ends of table tennis including the doubles and won 12 and lost 4. This is close but two 3-0 victories made the difference as Colin played 15 ends, won 12 and lost 3! Well done to Colin.
What about any controversies this week? In Team 1’s match v Edinburgh University, play was a little delayed in starting and unlike most weeks it was decided we would share a second table with the Derby match. As time marched on, it became apparent, as if we need reminded of this, that playing on one table (or on this occasion two tables every so often) simply results in us not being able to get through a night of league table tennis, if matches are anything other than straightforward 3-0 wins! As match 10 was about to get underway, we are grateful to Georges form Edinburgh Uni who proposed, and it was agreed, that the final match would be played best of three. He probably regretted that after losing, but it was clear that had he even won the second end to force a decider we would have been in trouble, 10pm having already come and gone!
The same match also saw Colin get irritated by his opponent sarcastically picking him up when he mistakenly thought he’d reached a towel break – Colin pointed out that his opponent had kicked the ball on a couple of occasions which could have resulted in a yellow card. On the subject of yellow cards, the students seemed to be under the impression that if a yellow card is shown that’s a point penalty. They were fairly insistent on that point (no yellow card was shown so nothing to get excited about). They were told to check the rules – our understanding is that a yellow card is a warning to a player and if the player “offends” again then a penalty point can be awarded. Greig also got on his high horse when a University spectator applauded one of the wildest shots he played all night – the ball was closer to hitting the ceiling than the table after Greig’s attempted forehand!! Whilst clearly, spectators can support their player, it does seem very unsportsmanlike to applaud the opponent’s mistakes – that will always be our stance on such matters as our favourite West Lothian player, Noah Fletcher knows so well.
Usually, Derby matches through up some controversial moments – a couple of dodgy let calls when it looked like the point was over caused some irritation, but it didn’t come to much. In the last match between James and Charlie, however, there was an interesting incident. In the middle of the second end and away from the match, Krzysztof was getting ready to start his final match of the night – he couldn’t find his bat anywhere. What had happened to it? It must have been put amongst someone else’s equipment by mistake – nope bags checked, tables checked, still no sign of it. Wait a minute what’s that blade that James has been playing with for an end and a half?? Oh dear!! James has tried to argue that the blades look similar – they’re both made of wood, but that’s where the similarity ends! Now no issue – James go get your own bat and give Krzysztof his bat back. His opponent, Charlie, however, pointed out that in terms of the rules you’re not allowed to change bats halfway through a match!!! Now that would have been a belter of a controversy had Charlie insisted on James continuing to play with the wrong bat – but sense prevailed, the change was made and perhaps fortunately, Charlie still won!
Mistaken identity seemed to continue after the table tennis was finished on Thursday night between these two teams – Craig nearly had the police called upon him as he was trying to force his way into his car in the car park – why won’t the doors open – what’s the problem – damn technology! Oh, hold on that’s not my car!!!
Ah what fun – Week 19 here we come.