Group photo (by Gordon Muir) shows:
 Kirsten Atkinson (North Merchiston), Calum Morrison (Edinburgh Sports Club), Colin Dalgleish (Murrayfield), Blair Fowler (Murrayfield),
Graham Muir (Murrayfield), Brian Cornet (Murrayfield) Alexander Asyunkin (Murrayfield), Kevin Lawson (The Blue Liners).

Award winners:

Team Awards:
Premier: Murrayfield 1
Division 1: Murrayfield V
Division 2: Edinburgh Sports Club III
Division 3: Blue Liners I
Handicap Cup: Murrayfield I

Individual Awards:
Player of the Year: Colin Dalgleish (Murrayfield)
Premier Division Award: Christopher Wheeler (Murrayfield)
Division 1 Award : Dariusz Szymczak (West Lothian)
Division 2 Award: Matthew Corrie (North Merchiston)
Division 3 Award: Jerome Goffin (Edinburgh University)
Dr Mike Allison Junior Award: Kirsten Atkinson (North Merchiston)

This is just a reminder that the ELTTL AGM is the be held on Monday 14th May at 7:30pm at the Edinburgh Sports Club. I have attached the minutes of last year’s AGM for reference. Agenda for the ELTTL AGM on Monday will be as follows.

AGENDA for the ELTTL AGM to be held on Monday 14th May at 7:30pm at Edinburgh Sports Club.

1. Introductory Remarks (President)
2. (a) Attendees
   

         (b) Apologies
    3.   Minutes of AGM 31st May 2011
    4.  Matters Arising
    5.  President’s Address
    6.  Proposed new annual John Glen Trophy to be awarded to the Player of the Year
          (as voted for by other players)
    7.  Match Secretary’s Report
    8.  Handicap Cup Report
    9.  Treasurer’s Report
    10. Coaching, Schools and Junior League
    11. Presentation of Awards
    12. Demonstration of On-Line Scoring System by Dr Robert Inder (after/during refreshment break)
    13. Election of Office Bearers
    14. Election of Committee Members
    15. Amendments to Rules
    16. Fees and Fines
    17. Honoraria
    18. Any Other Competent Business

                        19. Concluding Remarks (President)

Each club is entitled to send one representative per two teams entered in the league. Clubs with one team have one representative and an odd number of teams has an extra representative for that one, e.g. North Berwick with one team has one representative and Edinburgh International with nine teams has five representatives. Having said that, any other players who are interested may also attend the AGM provided that voting is limited as outlined previously.

I look forward to seeing representatives from each club at the AGM on Monday evening.

Regards

Lynn

W L Somerville
Secretary ELTTL

Former England table tennis no. 1 Matthew Syed says we
should not overemphasise the importance of talent over effort.

His talk can be downloaded as an MP3 here:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/podcasts/series/fourthought

Just a reminder that the Annual General Meeting of the Edinburgh and Lothians Table-Tennis League will be on Monday 14th May 2012, at Edinburgh Sports Club, at 7:30pm.

Having swept all before them in the Premier Division of the Edinburgh and Lothians Table-Tennis league during the 2011-2012 season (their closest match was a 7-3 victory over the now-former champions, North Merchiston 1) the young guns (all of them still below voting age) of Murrayfield Team 1 were attempting a rare League and Handicap Cup double last night when they played their clubmates, an unorthodoxly selected Murrayfield Team 3, in the final of the Handicap Cup. In the Handicap system a weaker player gets several points’ (the exact number depends on the relative handicaps of the two players) start against a stronger player, and each end is usually played to beyond the usual 11 points. Hence handicap matches that go the distance can last quite a time.

Here is an update on the historic Handicap Cup final played Wednesday night at Murrayfield. It was the first time since a 12th BBs team won in the 1970’s that 2 teams from the same club had contested the final.

The final score was: Murrayfield III 4 Murrayfield I 5

Murrayfield III
Graham Muir +3
Steven Gray –11 (2)
Keith Dingwall –7 (2)

Murrayfield I
Colin Dalgleish –17 (2)
Blair Fowler –16 (1)
Chris Wheeler –14 (2)

After a titanic battle lasting five hours the youngsters of Murrayfield I, by the narrowest of margins, beat Murrayfield III 5-4 with the match taken to 27-24 in the 5th set in game 9.
No one player won all their 3 matches and all the matches were very close. In fact I can say it was the closest match and probably the longest I’ve ever seen – and I’ve seen a few!

The scene was set with 13 year old Chris Wheeler taking over playing duties from Lindsay Muir who played in the quarter and semi-final. The Murrayfield III team was unchanged from the previous rounds.
Murrayfield I won the toss and elected to play as the “away team” This seemed initially to be a distinct advantage as the youngsters progressed to a 4-1 lead. They underestimated the dogged
determination and superb play of their opponents however and were stunned when at 2-4 Steven Gray overcame Chris Wheeler in 4 sets. Next in game 8 saw the two captains Keith Dingwall and 17 year old Colin Dalgleish pitted against each other. Another 5 setter ensued with a determined Keith winning 21-18 in the final set. Four games all………….

In the final game the winning blow was delivered by 15 year old Blair Fowler just beating a brave Graham Muir, a twice recent Handicap Cup winner. With his handicap Blair had to claw back a difference of 20 points and at one stage in the final set was 23-8 down. And this after Graham won the first set by a 14 point margin and was only 2 points from victory in the 4th set. Breath taking stuff!

The victory by Murrayfield I finishes off an amazing season with the young team winning the Premier Division, Senior Interleague title and now the Evening News and Dispatch Rosebowl for Table Tennis AKA the Handicap Cup. All this and Chris Wheeler winning the Premier League singles title. Congratulations to them all. Commiserations to the gallant losers. Thanks to all for a memorable final.

scorecard:

Ian Robertson
Handicap Cup Secretary

(from Left to right):
Graham Muir, Steven Gray, Keith Dingwall, Colin Dalgleish, Christopher Wheeler, Lindsay Muir (sub), Blair Fowler. [photos by Gordon Muir].

Murrayfield I emerged victorious from an epic final of the Edinburgh & Lothians Handicap Cup to complete a superb table tennis season. The win gives Murrayfield I an unprecedented treble of Cup, Premier League and Inter-League trophies. Their victory was very hard fought, with Murrayfield III pressing them all the way; the match concluding shortly before midnight.

It had looked like Murrayfield I would sweep to a straightforward victory as captain Colin Dalgleish and Christopher Wheeler both won two matches; establishing a 4-1 lead. Murrayfield III fought back, with skipper Keith Dingwall leading the way and Steven Gray in superb form, as he beat Wheeler 3-0. In a highly dramatic deciding match, a gritty display from Blair Fowler saw him edge past Graham Muir 3-2.

 Charlie Ellis

Murrayfield VI  4 – 6  North Merchiston V  (Mon 16th April 2012 : Div 1 / Div 2 Play-off)

Murrayfield VI
Lynn Somerville             1
Stuart Wilson                 3
Bob Sterling                    0

North Merchiston V
Chris Nabney                2½
Matthew Corrie           2½
Kirsten Atkinson           1

This play-off match always looked as if it would be a close one as so it turned out on the night, with many different playing styles pitted against each other. The pre-match photograph of both teams shows from left to right Lynn Somerville (C), Stuart Wilson, Bob Sterling, Chris Nabney (C), Matthew Corrie and Kirsten Atkinson.

Lynn played Chris in what turned out to be a titanic battle of the team captains. Lynn lost the close 1st set on a controversial edge that neither he or the umpire had seen or heard but went on to win the 2nd set to 7. Lynn and Chris shared the 3rd and 4th sets with many good rallies enjoyed by both. Lynn took a 9-7 lead in the 5th set with serve to come. He won the next point to go 10-7 up but, when he rolled his BH topspin serve off his pimps to Chris’s BH that had caused him to dump the ball into the bottom of the net on three previous occasions, the ball came off the edge of Chris’s bat, arced high in the air before landing on the table’s edge just over the net to deny Lynn that point. Chris then played brilliantly with two consecutive 3-ball attacks to take the score to deuce. Lynn could not respond to this late burst and lost 10-12 (-10, 7, -8, 7, -10). Match score 0 – 1

Stuart then played Matthew and neither held back with their respective attacking games as the shared the first two sets. The 3rd set became a war of attrition with both players aware that whoever won this set would gain some momentum. Stuart just managed to shade this set after four deuces and went on to clinch this game in the 4th set (6, -6, 13, 8). Match score 1 – 1

Bob then played Kirsten and soon won the 1st set to 6 by dint of good blocking and counter-hitting with his pimples. However, Kirsten sussed the pimps out in the 2nd set and put on a fine display of attacking table tennis to win the tight 2nd set to 10 and to take the 3rd to 9 points. Bob steadied up in the 4th set and looked as if he might take the game to a decider with some good retrieving but Kirsten had nerves of steel and won with a fabulous final FH down the line. Bob rued his missed chances in the 2nd set (6, -10, -9, -11). Match score 1 – 2

Stuart then had a fairly routine match against Chris who found it difficult to cope with Stuart’s more effective attacking style (7, 9, 7). Match score 2 – 2

Lynn then found himself struggling against an on-form Kirsten and lost the 1st set after winning only 3 points. Lynn tightened up his game and, despite one or two scares with his dubious serving being either penalised from the sidelines or punished by Kirsten’s good returning, went on the win in 4 sets (-3, 8, 5, 6). Match score 3 – 2

Bob put Matthew under some pressure in the 1st rather nervy set before eventually being shaded out  after three deuces. Bob could not summon up the same resistance in the next two sets, which both went to Matthew for the loss of only 9 points (-12, -2, -7). Match score 3 – 3

Lynn and Stuart played Chris and Matthew in the doubles with an immediate battle of varied serves and effective returning resulting in each side winning a set. It was the North Merchiston duo who applied the greater pressure with well constructed and consistent attacks to win in 4 (-6, 9, -6, -8). Match score 3 – 4

Stuart then played Kirsten who played confident and effective attacking table tennis to deservedly win the 1st set. Stuart found his range in subsequent sets and managed to outgun Kirsten during many blistering rallies to run out the winner in 4 sets, but didn’t have it all his own way (-8, 4, 7, 3). Match score 4 – 4

Bob played Chris but found it hard to cope with his attacking style with Bob finding himself being outplayed despite blocking well (-6, -6, -6). Match score 4 – 5

Lynn played Matthew in what was effectively a decider scenario but despite his best defensive efforts could not suppress the superior attacking play and effective 3-ball attacks of his opponent. It was all over in three sets, only two of which were fairly close (-9, -4, -8). Match score 4 – 6

At the end of the day the better team prevailed and were worthy winners of this closely fought play-off match. Player of the night was Stuart Wilson of Murrayfield VI who won his three. The position of player who most influenced the course of the match is shared equally between Chris and Kirsten. Chris for his significant win over Lynn in game 1 and Kirsten for what turned out to be the match winning 3rd game when she defeated the highly experienced Bob Sterling. All Murrayfield VI players wish North Merchiston V the best of luck when they join Division 1 next year.

Match report by Lynn Somerville.

Handicap Cup-1st Semi-Final.

In an entertaining game, Murrayfield I (Blair, Lindsay [sub for CW] and Colin D) overcame Murrayfield IV (Colin C, Charlie, Derek) 5-2. Charlie and a fired-up Derek both beat Lindsay, while Charlie had plenty chances versus Blair and Colin D… and Derek got also close to Blair. But Colin and Blair were impressively consistent in their play (as they had to be given the 9 & 10 point starts they were conceding) and proved far more stable on the big points.

The 2nd Semi-final (Murrayfield 3  V  Edinburgh International 5) is due to take place next Wednesday, with the final penciled in for Monday 23rd.

Team IV held their nerve in a tough HC Cup QF versus Ed Int III in a rather warm and humid TT room at NMerchy.
The handicaps ranged from -6 to -8 so afforded little advantage for any player.

scorecard here:
http://twitpic.com/96p9sg

Though he lost the 1st end vs Jim, Ian seemed to have his form as he took the 2nd game in impressive fashion. However,
he was unable to maintain this and went down 1-3.
Colin continued his Inter-League form in beating Marek in 4 entertaining ends- Colin getting good spin on his FH at the key moments, keeping Marek on the defensive.

Charlie once more found himself befuddled by Peter’s services and went 1-2 down. Eventually he managed to get some meaningful returns in, dominated on his own serve, and took the final two games with relative comfort.

Marek played nicely (and had a greater shared of nets and edges) to beat an under-par Ian in 3 games, and Charlie played steadily enough to beat Jim in 3.

The match score now 3-2 to Murrayfield…but Colin decision to replace his Inter-League shirt seemed a risky move…
Colin’s match with Peter was full of momentum shifts. Colin was in excellent form as he took a 2-1 lead before Peter dominated the 4th game (12-2). Things weren’t looking good as Peter took a 11-7 lead in the 5th, giving him 4 match points. While Peter tightened up, Colin produced a couple of excellent FHs and took the final 6 points to close out a vital 13-11 victory.

This gave Charlie an opportunity to secure an ‘early’ win. After a shaky 1st set, he settled into a better, simpler game and dominated the 2nd and 3rd games. Marek took a lead in the 4th…and a tense 5th looked to be on the cards: but Charlie secured a run of points to take it 11-9.

5-2 for team IV.

Murrayfield face either Murrayfield I or the ESC youngsters in the semi final-possibly next week.

Penicuik III  3 – 7  Murrayfield VI  (4th April 2012)

Penicuik III
Brian Bailey               1½
Clive Liddiard            1½
Phil Daly                     0

Murrayfield VI
Roger Thomas           2
Lynn Somerville        2
Stuart Wilson            3

This match would decide which team would finish bottom of Division 1 and be relegated. Due to a superior For/Against games difference, Penicuik III required only a draw to reach safety if they could prevail over their club mates Penicuik II the next evening. Penicuik III were missing their top gun, Andy Grant-Robertson, for whom they had substituted Phil Daly (a capable left-hander). Murrayfield VI elected to play the same team that had recently beaten Edinburgh International V by 6 – 4. Prior to this match Penicuik had been involved in FOUR draws and Murrayfield in only ONE.

Roger seemed to catch Brian cold in the opening set to win it 11-2. Brian steadied up to win the 2nd set to 8 with some good 3-ball attacks. However, it was Roger who had the upper hand in the next two sets to win in four (-2, 8, -8, -9). Match score: 0 – 1

Lynn appeared to have the measure of Clive’s all-round attacking style and won the 1st set to 6. Clive’s consistency improved greatly in the 2nd set but Lynn took it after two deuces. With new found confidence in his BH smashes Clive easily took the next two sets for the loss of only 11 points. The deciding set was close with Clive trying to drive Lynn back from the table in a BH to BH duel, but Lynn’s defence held firm for him to win after four deuces (-6, -11, 5, 6, -13). Match score: 0 – 2

Stuart was so surprised by Phil’s awkward leftie shots that he lost the 1st set to 7, but was able to outgun him in the next three sets (7, -6, -5, -5). Match score: 0 – 3

Clive’s well-timed 3-ball attacks took him to 2 – 0 lead in sets against Roger who steadily improved enough to snatch the 3rd set to 11. The 4th set was also a close affair but Clive shaded it to close out this game (5, 7, -11, 9). Match score: 1 – 3

Brian and Stuart shared two low scoring sets before Stuart was able to find a way through Brian’s defence to win the 3rd set after three deuces. Brian fought back well to clinch the 4th set. The 5th set was close and it was extremely unfortunate for Brian that Stuart’s winner was an edge (5, -5, -12, 8, -9). Match score: 1 – 4

Phil enjoyed early dominance in the 1st two sets against Lynn but eventually lost them to 8 and 7. Phil punished anything directed to his FH therefore he soon found more shots going either to his body or to his less favoured BH, which limited his attacking opportunities – he won fewer in the 3rd (-8, -7, -5). Match score: 1 – 5

Brian and Clive proved to be an effective doubles partnership when they played Roger and Stuart, but Murrayfield pushed them hard in the 1st two tight sets before blistering, un-returnable smashes from Clive won them for Penicuik. No matter how cautious Murrayfield were in the 3rd set, Brian and Clive had all the answers as they closed it out comfortably (9, 10, 5). Match score: 2 – 5

On two tables by this time and with Murrayfield looking to win one game for victory, the encounter between Clive and Stuart was classic attacker versus attacker. Stuart’s heavier and more varied shots put Clive on the back foot from the outset and Stuart ran out a comfortable winner in three sets (3, 2, 6). Match score: 2 – 6

Meanwhile, at another table, Roger’s good all-round game proved to be too strong for Phil, who lost in three. During the impressive rallies spectators were impressed by the purity of Roger’s stroke play (-3, -6, -6). Match score: 2 – 7

In the 10th game (dead rubber) Brian and Lynn shared the first four sets and thrilled the audience with some attacking and defending both near and back from the table. It was Brian who won the tactical and consistency battle in the 5th set with his excellent attacks just too good for Lynn (-6, 9, -9, 5, 8). Match score: 3 – 7

Although this match had to compete with a lot of growling and barking from the Dog Training Class in the other half of the hall, everyone who participated or watched from the wings enjoyed the good standard of table tennis on display. On balance Murrayfield VI deserved this win and the player of the match was Stuart Wilson. All credit though to Penicuik III for putting up such a doughty performance. Murrayfield VI will now look forward to playing whichever team comes 2nd in Division 2 in what promises to be a thrilling single match play-off.

Match report by Lynn Somerville