Seconds @ Waverley 2 (Wed, Nov 26, 08)

will Kerr v Niven simpson 0-3. Tony Gribben v Douglas kempsell 0-3. Robert Pfab v Mike reid 0-3. Alan Stokes v Paul osinski 3-1. Michael Scott v Damien Noade 0-3. Grange 5- Wav 20. Waverley had an experienced team out and although some of the games were close wav always seemed to have the edge.

seconds @ Abercorn (Wed, 19 Nov, 08)

Will Kerr V A Mckenzie 3-2. Tony Gribben v Bob Taylor 3-2 alan v g williams 3-1. mike Scott v Kevin Mcoll 3-1. Peter Cockburn v K robertson 3-0 20 points to Grange. grange met a slightly weak team due to Ab have players out etc so we won convincigly

Grange 3 home v Waverley 4 on 28th November 2008

Another successful night for the thirds who are really getting a roll on over the last few weeks. This time it was against some promotion-rival opposition which makes the 14-7 scoreline all the more valuable.

Mark Dutton went on first at No 4 against John Usher and like most weeks to date completely failed to get down to business in the first game and turned up to play only in the second. John was quite a tough opponent and in particular the enormous backhand crosscourts that he could unleash at will. Those big backhands, combined with a very deceptive backhand drop left Mark floundering (and diving)on numerous occasions. The second game just eluded him at 9-10 and the third was a close tussle too until three more of those backhands finished it off quick-smart. 0-3 for the first loss of the season.

Russell Langley went on at No5 against Neil Kimpsell and picked up his fourth 3-0 victory in a row. Russell played well within himself and was able to comfortably cope with Neil's occasional bouts of resistance by stepping up a gear when needed.

Patrick Langley was next at No 3 against young whippet David Munro. This reporter only managed to see the third game but if that was representative then it was a very good tussle indeed. David was a very fast and agile player with a big hit and excellent touch...but our own whippet was'nae a slouch either. Patrick played an excellent third game to come back from 4-7 down and responded to all of the young lad's tricks with some pretty tricksy hobbit stuff of his own and took the thoroughly entertaining match 3-0.

Next up at No 2 was Christy Looby against Damien Noade. Christy played very well for long periods and was able to dominate Damien but then would let himself down with some losses of focus and Damien would be back in it. Christy was dominating overall though and found himself 2-1 up in games and having closed out the third on a high the gallery was thinking that the wrap up was a formality. However, Damien really came out of the box and reeled off a sequence of unanswerable points and it was all Christy could do to stop the train with few handouts and points towards the end of the game. The final game was well fought but Damien pulled away at the end. 2-3.

Pete Cockburn opened up in very good form in his first game at No 1 against Don Shearer and was off the court in just a few minutes. Sterner resistance from Don in the second was also overcome by Pete but the third game was a different story with Pete losing to set up what promised to be an interesting and entertaining final two games. In the final analysis it only took the one and Pete continued his recent very good form to dominate the game in the face of some spirited resistance. 3-1.

Next week we take on Waverley 3 and despite their apparent ranking were convincingly beaten by this Waverley 4 crew in a recent outing, so we'll be looking for a good result at Suffolk Road to consolidate our spot at the top of the table at the end of the first half of the season.

Grange Firsts home v Tyne (Wed, Nov 26, 08)

Good win for the Grangers last night

Allan (Hamer) made his reliable return with a 3-0 win over Dave Jubb at 1, close and Allan wasn't playing great but just too quick and fit (9/7 10/8 9/2). Ian Green stepped it up and took out their number two Alan 3-1 (9/6 3/9 10/8 9/4).

Chris Mair ran out of puff and lost 3-2 to teenage prodigy Dan McEwen (9/7 9/3 7/9 5/9 2/9), Brian Buchanan had a comfortable win over Nigel pearman at four, 3 nil (9/1 9/1 9/5). Quote from a spectator "controlled agression. Brian would say 'That's a very good shot' when Nige would blast a roller into the nick, but Brian would say it in a tone of voice that said you'll-have-to-hit-27-consecutive-shots-like-that-to beat-me."

Mike Perring wrapped things up with a 3-1 win at 5 over Graham Morrison (6/9 9/0 9/0 9/6).

4 matches to 1, 17-7 Grange win after marking points (we didn't have a qualified counter) CM (CL)

Grange Open 2008 - Results/Photos!

Called up for the prizes were...
(Click to zoom in)
Front: Elaine Inglis(Ladies champ), Brydie MacLearnon(Ladies R-up & Titan Sports sponsors), Eric Donohoe(C winner), Dougie Brown(C R-up)
Middle: Karen Kennedy (Ladies plate), Allan Tasker (Open R-up), Peter O'Hara(Open champ), Chris Mair (B winner), Craig Pounder (B plate), Nick Wood(B R-up), Andy MacLearnon (Titan Sports, sponsors)
Back: Jonathan Frame (C plate), Jonathan McBride (Open plate)

Open scores
Ladies scores
B scores
C scores

Click here for a summary of the final by the runner-up

While the finalists examine the loot downstairs, there are interested spectators looking down from the gallery....
(click to zoom in)
Gallery L-R: 2 of Elaine Inglis' fan club ;-), Fiona MacLaren, Alasdair Gordon, James Looby, Mr Tasker(Senior), Robin Pollok, Fiona Johnston, Alan Stokes, Mike Perring
Court L-R: Peter O'Hara making acceptance speech, Eric Donohoe, Jonathan McBride, Nick Wood, Allan Tasker, Chris Mair, Elaine Inglis, Brydie MacLearnon, Jonathan Frame, Andy MacLearnon(obscured)

Firsts home v Waverley, Wed, Nov 19, 08)

Awaiting captain's report, here is some info from Chris Mair when I met him in the corridoor...
Ian Green at #1 got nothing from Chris Ferguson 0-3
Brian Buchanan #2 close but no cigar v Iain Murray 0-3
Chris Mair #3 likewise v Andrew Leitch, puffing a bit in the 4th.
Mike Perring #4 got the sole win of the night 3-2.
Ali G had a gruelling at #5 against Dave Ferguson who said it was the best match he'd played in years, 2-3

Overall 1-4, 8-17 on points. CL

Dalgety Bay 3 vs Grange 3 Monday 17th Nov 2008

The third team's success on their travels continued with a convincing 18-2 win over Dalgety Bay 3rds. Lots of miles racked up over two weeks of visits to Dunbar and Dalgety Bay but a 36 point haul makes that worthwhile.

Mark Dutton started proceedings at No 5 against Sandy Lax and unlike the slow starts of previous weeks got on top right away and moved further away as the match went on, winning the last game with only a single hand-out conceded. A 3-0 win that maintained the undefeated start to the season.

RusselL Langley also did the 3-0 business on Bob Russell at No 4 (his 3rd 3-0 in a row) and also closed out the match with a 9-0 in the third game to underline his dominance.

Patrick Langley at No 3 was likewise untroubled by Peter Jones and closed out a 3-0 win.

Pete Cockburn at No 2 was dominant for the majority of his match with Scott Drummond. Scott looked quite handy and retrieved well and made Pete work for all his winners, but that was really all he could do as Pete played a good, controlled game to keep him at the back of the court. A 3-0 win was the result.

Dougie Brown at No 1 met some sterner resistance from Ken Clements. Doug's touch and depth/width play weren't initially up to his own standards and Ken was able to touch-shot him to a 1-2 game position. Doug got his act together a little more in the fourth game to deny ken the chances and that trend magnified in the final game which Doug won easily. 3-2 to Doug.

Apart from savouring the 18 points, the team also thoroughly enjoyed the lashings of Chicken Sweet and Sour at the t'riffic little pub they took us to after the match.

Grange 3 beat Dalgety Bay 3 by 18 points to 2.