Edinburgh University

• Andy McDougall 0
• Tony Fowler 1
• Mei Lye 0

 Murrayfield

• Alex Asounkin 3
• Charlie Ellis 3
• Ian Robertson 2 

match played at the Pleasance, March 9th 2010.

Match Report Written By league president and Edinburgh International 3 player Ken Benjamin:

In the first half of the season, Murrayfield 5 had won the match 9-1. For that match Billy and Jim were absent, and Brian Bridson (who had our only victory) and Alan Ward played up. On Wednesday, Billy was again unavailable and so big praise to Allan Black of Edinburgh International 4 for playing up at only 10 hours' notice! Before play started I feared another bad defeat, if not so heavy a defeat as in December.
 
Jim beat Roger in match one, then in match 2 I came back from 10-6 down in the second end against Derek to win it 14-12. In the third end I was 10-6 up, so four match points. Which I blew, and several more in the deuce section to lose 17-19. Luckily I managed to pull myself together in the fifth end to win my first match, at the tenth attempt, against a Murrayfield player this season. Allan then reversed a previous league defeat to Colin to this time beat him in four ends, slightly unexpectedly and much to our delight. So we were 3-0 up!
 
Jim beat Derek in match 4, and Allan beat Roger in a tight encounter in match 5. We had at least halved the match overall! Allan had thought that individual match was his best chance of a win, so he had wanted to play it as his second individual match and the plan worked! In match 6 Colin hit many winners with his spectacular inside-out flat forehand hits. When on song that is the best forehand smash in Division 1. However, I managed to also coax him into making just enough errors, and a few less spectacular winners of my own, for me to win in four ends, and at that stage the win overall, after six matches!! It was so unexpected a win that I had not even thought of it earlier in the evening!!
 
We lost the doubles, but improved on last week in at least winning an end. Then Murrayfield 5 hit their stride, Derek's forehand working very well against Allan in ends 2, 3 and 4. Despite stout retrieving by Jim in match 9, Colin crashed enough big forehand smashes past Jim to win in four ends, so Murrayfield had won three in a row. In match 10 Roger never really got going against me.
 
So a completely unexpected and very welcome 7-3 win for us. For me it was the first time that I have won all three of my matches for a month, it reversed my losing all my matches to the same three players in December, and also it was the first time this season that I have won more matches than Jim Grahame! But the team is everything, and we could not have won without Allan Black, to whom every grateful praise once again.
 
Ken Ben

Edinburgh International IX

Dave Cartwright 0
Jim Lee 0
Ian Walker 0

Murrayfield VI

Alex Asyunkin 3
Ian Robertson 3
Charlie Ellis 3

 While hardly on top form, team 6 were to strong for EI IX. Alex play lacked energy but he did enough to win his three in three. After having difficulties with Ian Walker's unorthodox style and rubbers (but winning in three), Charlie found some form in beating Dave and Jim with some fluent play.

Ian played three entertaining matches: beating Jim in 4 in a match with several fine rallies. Against Ian Walker, Ian lost the 2nd end 11-1 but recovered well to take the third before Ian W levelled it at 2-2. In a tense 5th set, Ian played several good FHs and took it 11-8

In another close match, Ian won the final game beating Dave in a good 5-setter.

Despite  some confusion over signals (!) Alex and Charlie were fairly comfortable winners over Dave and Jim in the doubles.

team 6 play next Tuesday and Friday.

If they can secure wins in these matches and another versus EI X then -as has always looked likely-where they will finish up will depend on their results in their final two games: versus West Lothian 3 (probably- home 25th March) and Corstorphine 2 (Home April 2nd). 

match played 2nd March, at North Merchiston.

Murrayfield VI

• Charlie Ellis 3 
• Alex Asyunkin 3
• Ian Robertson 3

Corstorphine IV

• James Grant 0
• Alistair Grant 0
• Geoff Gardner 0 

Team 6 closed part of the gap between themselves and West Lothian 3/ Corstorphine 2 with a comfortable win over Corstorphine 4.
Charlie began solidly enough against James who played some fine shots but was typically overambitious with his big FHs. After losing 7 of the 1st 8 points, Alex lost just 5 more in overcoming Alistair.

Ian and Geoff then played out the best match of the afternoon (8-11, 15-13, 11-9, 11-7). Despite a bad knee (Geoff was in filling in for the injured Alan Grant) , Geoff took the first game, repelling some good attacking play from Ian. Ian then took a highly entertaining 2nd end, with both players having several game points; before he took games 3 and 4 as he played some of his best stuff this season.

Ian also had an entertaining clash with Alistair, winning the 4th end 13-11. In his final game -and despite a bizarre ‘juggling’ fault serve and his opponent’s skilful lobbing- Ian beat James in three.
The other games were somewhat one –sided, including Alex and Charlie’s doubles win over James and Geoff, and Alex’s 11-3, 11-2, 11-2 win over Geoff.

match played 28th February, 2010 at Corstorphine -though officially a Murrayfield home match-but

shifted due to postponement and consequent difficulties in finding a slot at Murrayfield. Thanks to Corstorphine TTC for hosting the game. 

Murrayfield VI

• Alex Asyunkin 3
• Charlie Ellis 3
• Ian Robertson 2

• Kirk Ollason 0
• Fan Wu 1
• Ken Cadogan 0

Team 6 kept up their title challenge with a solid victory over EI 7 (who were stronger than in the 1st meeting with the addition of the able Fan Wu).

As a cricketer*, Charlie is used to wet weather interrupting play but not in table tennis. But a leak in the roof (right over the very middle of the hall) meant that the game was interrupted by various splashes –with the table having to be dried off between each end.

While hardly getting past 2nd gear Alex secured a comfortable win over Kirk in the 1st game.  After taking the 1st end 11-2, Charlie lost the 2nd as Fan Wu’s serves caused him some difficulties. Fortunately Fan Wu was unable to maintain his form and Charlie closed out the match in 4.

Ian then played with some fluency against Ken; and frustrated his opponent with a few moments of fortune as he took the match in three close sets (11-8. 13-11, 12-10). Charlie and Alex then beat Kirk and Ken respectively-both in 3 quick sets. Ian played some fine stuff in his 2nd match but Fan Wu also found his rhythm with his FH drive loops and his explosive BH and took the match in 4.

 Alex and Charlie then cruised through the doubles and gave Murrayfield an unassailable 6-1 lead. In the final set of singles, Charlie played a bit scrappily (especially in the third game) but beat Ken in 3.
Ian and Kirk then played out the best match of the night. Ian taking the 1st two sets
before Kirk deployed his sidespin serve and took games 3 and 4 (though Ian had led it 10-6). Though Ian led the final end 5-0, Kirk pulled him back before the Murrayfield skipper took the match with an outrageous edge at 10-9  (11-8, 11-6, 6-11, 10-12, 11-9).
Alex soon found himself 1 game down to Fan Wu and switched to a more pragmatic approach and forced numerous errors from his erratic opponent-while also finding his own attacking play . Alex closing out the match in 4 sets.

The top of Div 2 is now very tight (Corstorphine 2 are now on top having beaten West Lothian III), so team 6 need to keep winning: their final two games are against WL and Cor 2. Team 6’s next games are on Sunday (yes) and Tuesday.

Match played: 27th Feb, 2010, at Murrayfield.

* on that note, if anyone knows someone looking for a cricket club in Edinburgh can you direct them to:

http://holycrosscricket.co.uk/
http://holycrosscricket.blogspot.com/
Despite the name/ location, please do not direct them to Murrayfield-DAFS Cricket club!