Over 40's Final (Fri, Mar 1, '13)

 

The Over-50's winner doesn't manage to double up in the Over-50's handicap, good effort though:

Tom McEwen wins the Titan racketbag as O-40's champion with Rocco Pannozzo as runner-up

Grange 5 versus Dean 2 – Thursday 07/02/2013

The Fifth’s were playing Dean 2 at the Academy this evening and first up was myself playing Ross Anderson at number 2, this was down to the fact that half our team were slightly delayed and running a bit late.

The first set was quickly won by Ross 9-1 as I was a bit slow to get out of the blocks. The second set had lots of change of serves with neither player imposing themselves on the match and I found myself 8-6 down before levelling the score 8-8, Ross called set 1 and I managed to serve out to win the second set 9-8. I went on to take the third set 9-4 before Ross came back and won the fourth set 9-5, taking the game to a deciding set. The fifth set was a long affair with lots of changes of serve and I found myself 8-5 up serving for the match, before a late rally from Ross levelled the score 8-8, I called set 2 and eventually managed to win the set 10-8. Win for the Grange in 5, 1-9, 9-8, 9-4, 5-9, 10-8.

On the other court Bill Marshall was playing Andrew Johnston at number 5. Andrew was in control from the start and quickly won the game 3-0, 9-0, 9-3, 9-4.

Jordan suffered a similar fate playing Michael Clarkson at number 4 and found himself losing the match 3-0, 9-1, 9-5, 9-1.

Andrew Beames was playing Craig Wallace at number 1 on the same court and found himself down 2-0, before the revival kicked in with Andrew taking the next 3 sets to win the match 3-2, 7-9, 1-9, 9-6, 9-6, 9-1.

With the match score at 2 rubbers apiece, it was down to Stephen Davey playing Peter McCallum at number 3 to win the tie for the Grange. The first set saw Stephen in control from the start and he took the first set 9-3. The second set saw a rally from Peter, who went on to take the set 9-6. The third set saw Stephen taking control once more with some good retrieving and never allowing peter to settle, taking the set 9-1. The fourth set followed a similar pattern with Stephen always in control and he went on to win the set 9-4 and the match 3-1, 9-3, 6-9, 9-1, 9-4.

Match results including ref points was 14-13 to Grange 5 and our first back-to-back win of the season.

Back to Rocco’s restaurant for Pizza and gluten free pasta to round off the evening. (Match report – Neil Love)

Pos	Player	Rubbers	Games	Points			Player	Rubbers	Games	Points
1	Andrew Beames	1	3	35			Craig Wallace	0	2	31
2	Neil Love	1	3	34			Ross Anderson	0	2	38
3	Stephen Davey	1	3	35			Peter McCallum	0	1	17
4	Jordan Fleming	0	0	7			Michael Clarkson	1	3	27
5	Bill Marshall	0	0	7			Andrew Johnston	1	3	27
Total		3	9	118				2	11	140
Competition Points		14						13

National League: Franco's Grange home v ESC(Sat Feb 9)

First up was Catherine John against Senga Macfie. Too much tin in the first, Catherine got a rhythm going in the second and it became a battle of her speed against the holds and switches of Senga. Lost it 8-11. In the 3rd, it was even closer, Catherine had it a battle of Senga versus Senga's demons, at 8-8 Catherine clipped the tin and Senga flopped over the finish line in 2 more rallies.
   Match of the day was Allan Hamer against leftie Jacques Laas. Allan got a good start in the first before battle was joined by Jacques who pegged him back. Extra points, Allan had gameball twice but Jacques got it 14-12. Jacques asserted himself in the second, 11-6 and it looked like Allan would fold. Not a bit of it, some amazing recovery even when stranded at the front wall, Allan brought home the next 2 games. Kevin Moran remarked that he was sweating buckets in the balcony, I told him whatever coaching advice he was giving between games, it was working. It was sheer drama in the fifth. Allan matched Jacques point for point up to 8-8 but Jacques has the benefit of going deep week-in week-out in Div 1 and he finished it off better.
    Kevin Moran beat Ross McHoul 3-0, no drama there.
Drama in rally 1 of Dougie Kempsell v Simon Boughton as Dougie twinged his ankle again. Simon began to get the upper hand and took the first 2. Dougie played through the pain to take the third convincingly but Simon kept him pinned in the fourth.
   Overall 1-3, 6-12 on points. We have never got less than 6 points and remain in 4th but need to get 3 postponed matches played and hold up our average.  Click here for Unofficial Standings/results 
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D. Kempsell l S Boughton 8/11 7/11 11/5 7/11
K Moran b R McHoul 11/7 11/8 11/7
A Hamer l J Laas 12/14 6/11 11/4 11/8 8/11
C John l S Macfie 3/11 7/11 8/11
--- Not all teams have played the same number of matches, so I've put the average down here to level things out ---

1. Aberdeen SRC2 80pts Average 13 (Max=15)
2. Dalgety Bay 62pts 10
3. Giffnock LTC 55pts 8
4. Aberdeen SRC1 51pts 9
5. Grange SC 51pts 8.5
6. Edinburgh Sports Club 45pts 7
7. Heriot Watt Uni 23pts 4.5
8. Inverness LTSC 8pts 2.5

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Firsts dominant for 2 weeks running....

2 back to back victories for the 1s to reports on which bagged us an impressive 36 points.

On friday we were away to Colinton 3s who were fielding their strongest team of the season. Fortunately for us we were doing the same now having Allan Hamer back in the fold at one returning after his Aberdeen sabitical.

We all faced tough opponents each of us scraping through 3-1 in our matches apart from Nick Wood who was too steady for Stuart Keane to take his 3-0.

Pie, sausage rolls and beans in ridiculous amounts after wards to round off a good night!

Pos	Player	Rubbers	Games	Points			Player	Rubbers	Games	Points
1	Allan Hamer	1	3	29			Neil Thomson	0	1	20
2	Will Kerr	1	3	35			James Burnet	0	1	33
3	Pete Cockburn	1	3	29			Gary Speirs	0	1	20
4	Nick Wood	1	3	27			Stuart Keane	0	0	9
5	Stuart Moffat	1	3	37			Kim Byers	0	1	28
Total		5	15	157				0	4	110
Competition Points		18						4

Last night we hosted Abercorn 1s. Four 3-0 victories for the GRG guys plus an unfortunate work over as well not helping the Abercorn cause. Allan's 3-0 win over Lez was a particulary good effort. Both players working hard. Lez on more than one occassion literally on his knees!!

Pos	Player	Rubbers	Games	Points			Player	Rubbers	Games	Points
1	Allan Hamer	1	3	28			Leszek Stelmachowski	0	0	14
2	Will Kerr	1	3	27			David Ross	0	0	14
3	Pete Cockburn	1	3	27			no player	0	0	0	Forfeit
4	Nick Wood	1	3	28			Ian Ross	0	0	15
5	Mike Hall	1	3	27			Alister MacKenzie	0	0	3
Total		5	15	137				0	0	46
Competition Points		18						0

Pete

First Ladies V ESC 1

To set the scene: ESC have scored top marks in their previous 4 games, they have won all of their matches so far this season. We aren't far behind - we have only lost once, to them, before Xmas. So, it was the clash of the top two teams and nae low ceilings to get in the way this time. Fate (illness) and a jolly to South Africa ruined some perfect plans but there was still hope.

Donna was flattened by flu and Georgie was off on a work trip so both Karen and Anna were pulled up to the first team. Karen played at 5 and was slightly out-whacked by her opponent but there were some fine rallies so I don't feel so bad. Still lost 3:0 though. Anna played someone who had flown from London to Edinburgh today and her head was still recovering from the turbulence. Still, Anna polished her off in 3 games so excellent result.

Aoife played at 3, two up from usual, and had a great game against Moira. Thankfully youth triumphed in the end - 3:1 to us. Sadly youth triumphed for Lottie as well (I don't get to write that very often) as a 15 year old with no off switch bounced around the court. Jnr nearly came undone in the 3rd - Lottie had game point, but a badly timed out ball gave Jnr the chance to zoom back in and win 3:0.

So, 2 matches each as the firsts prepared to do battle. Catherine was out whacked in the first game but her fitness and determination meant she clawed her way back in the second game and was very unlucky to lose it 10:9. The 3rd game was a disaster - Kirsty had match point on 8:0! She then stepped off the gas and Catherine (now aka Lazarus) inched back to take the 3rd game 10:8. Kirsty was a bit bemused at this and spent the 4th game in a bit of a daze, Catherine winning that 9:0!

So, 2 matches each and now 2 games each in the final match. Any predictions for the final score?? Us neither. Which Kirsty would start the 5th game? Would Catherine falter at the final hurdle?

Catherine won the first 5 rallies, ESC were looking very worried. Lots of encouragement from the balcony, usually unheard of in the ladies leagues. But then, Catherine hit the tin on a winner and Kirsty started her comback. Shame we don't have a speedometer on court as there were some amazing smashes from here on in. Kirsty made a few more mistakes but sadly not two in a row and eventually won 9:5 to win the bonus points. It was a great sporting game to watch, one that many Jnrs could learn from.

Final scores on the night were 13:8 to ESC with both teams picking up the bonus ref points (at least I contributed something to the scoreline). It was an excellent evening of good squash from two very sporting teams. The baked potatoes were fab too.

Pos	Player	Rubbers	Games	Points			Player	Rubbers	Games	Points
1	Catherine John	0	2	36			Kirsty Craig	1	3	36
2	Lottie Fulton	0	0	15			Carrie Hallam	1	3	28
3	Aoife Kerrin	1	3	35			Moira Atkinson	0	1	20
4	Anna Gaskell	1	3	27			Claire Thomson	0	0	15
5	Karen Kennedy	0	0	11			Julie Barr	1	3	27
Total		2	8	124				3	10	126
Competition Points		8						13

White Pigeon - Don't get too close to the wall

Grange 5 at Dunbar 2 – Thursday 31/01/2013

The Fifth’s were playing down at Dunbar this evening and we were struggling for a full team, until Jordan Fleming agreed to play in the no 5 berth on the morning of the match. The travel arrangements were fragmented as well with Jonathan and Jordan (who were both making their fifth team outings for this season) opting to relax and let the train take the strain.

The leisurely journey obviously worked wonders for both players as they were first up on court with Jordan playing at number 5 and Jonathan at number 3. Jonathan settled quickly into the match and asserted control early on and went on to close out a comfortable 3-0 win, 9-2, 9-2, 9-0. Jordan who was only playing his second competitive match in three months returning from an injury, took the first set 9-2, A lapse of concentration and the inability to hit the ball a length saw Keith take the second set 5-9, a little pep talk and a bit of chuntering from Jordan soon sorted things out and Jordan went on to close the match out with a 3-1 win, 9-2, 5-9, 9-5, 9-4. 

Next on court was myself playing Richard Baty at number 4, Richard had come out of retirement to play for Dunbar and I had promised myself to play more lengths and crosscourt shots and limit the boasts until the point had been set up. This was a good plan until the third point in when the first boast was played and Richard was rooted at the back of the court, sensing that this would yield cheap points the game descended into a boast feast with tight, loose and indifferent boasts making their mark and a 3-0 win for the Grange, 9-1, 9-4, 9-0.

Meanwhile Andrew Beames was playing Martin Baty at number 1 on the other court and this match was a much tighter affair. Andrew always had his nose in front and went on to win the rubber 3-0, 9-6, 9-7, 9-5.

Last up was Brian Sloan playing Alan Murphy at number 2, and after Alan had a moan about the amount of leftie’s he has to play the game started and Brian soon found himself down 1-7, a rally from Brian saw him taking the first set 9-7. The second set saw Brian race into a 6-1 lead only for Alan to claw back to level a 6-6, a couple of changes of serve then saw Brian get over the line and take the second set 9-6. Similar story in the third set with Brian quickly going behind 0-8, and then of course the recovery which saw Brian get back to 7-8 before Alan got the point he needed to win the third set 7-9. The fourth set saw Brian control from the start and he closed out the match for a 3-1 win, 9-7, 9-6, 7-9, 9-5.

Match results including ref points was 20-2 to Grange 5 and our first full house of the season. Well played guys.

We were treated to Lasagne and salad, with enough leftover for second helpings for those were so inclined. Chat was good natured and then we said our goodbyes to make the journey back to Edinburgh. We had to ensure that Brian’s car started before we left the car park, which it did first time and with Jonathan opting to take the train back to Edinburgh Park, the remainder of the team started the journey back up the A1 and conversation turned to Stargazing live and vertical farming, before dropping Jordan off at his home in Dalkeith, which turns out to be a an octagonal polychrome brick water tower constructed in 1879 for the Dalkeith town council by James Leslie, Engineer of the Edinburgh water company. How cool is that.   

 

Match report – Neil Love

 

Pos	Player	Rubbers	Games	Points			Player	Rubbers	Games	Points
1	Martin Baty	0	0	18			Andrew Beames	1	3	27
2	Alan Murphy	0	1	27			Brian Sloan	1	3	34
3	Neil Black	0	0	4			Jonathan Norrie	1	3	27
4	Richard Baty	0	0	5			Neil Love	1	3	27
5	Keith Nicolson	0	1	20			Jordan Fleming	1	3	32
Total		0	2	74				5	15	147
Competition Points		2						18