We now have only three table-tennis matches left this season – the Handicap Cup Final, the Premier Division / Division 1 playoff, and the Division 2 / Division 3 playoff.

 

The Handicap Cup Final

This will be played tomorrow, Wednesday 1st May, at Murrayfield, 7pm. Edinburgh Sports Club 2 (Calum Morrison at -6, John Hannah at -7 and Jamie Crawley at scratch) will play the home team Murrayfield 4 (Colin Clark at -7, Ian Moran at -6 and Derek Croll at -6) Last year, on 25th April 2012, the Handicap Cup was won by Murrayfield 1 (Colin Dalgleish, Christopher Wheeler and Blair Fowler), then aged 17, 13 and 15. This year, Edinburgh Sports Club 2 - aged 13,15 and 12 - are favoured to make good use of their handicaps and win the match. I must say, this is a worrying trend! If the new orthodoxy is that you can’t win the Handicap Cup unless you are (sometimes much) too young to vote, then we should trawl the ranks of Minor boys and girls for next year’s winning Handicap Cup team – and anyone over, oh, about 20 can give up now!

 

The Premier Division / Divisional 1 playoff

This will be played on Friday 3rd May, at Murrayfield, at 7pm. Murrayfield 4 of the Premier Division will try to maintain their status at the expense of Edinburgh International 2 from Division 1. There has been much speculation about the composition of both sides, with considerations of current form, eligibility for the playoffs, and player availability. Nevertheless, whichever teams are fielded, Murrayfield 4 are strongly expected to win, with one of the host players looming ominously as the dominant player of the encounter.

 

The Division 2 / Division 3 playoff.

Wednesday 8th May at 6:30pm, at Edinburgh Sports Club. Their third team from Division 2 will try to fend off Corstorphine 4 of Division 3. Apparently I’ve been banned from umpiring in this match!

 

I urge people to go along and watch any or several of these matches,oh, the excitement .... Oh, just to say again that the Playoff matches are played as normal league games, with doubles at match 7. If it ends in a 5-5 draw, the side that has lost fewest ends wins; if still level, then fewest points wins.

 

El Presidente

Here is a further update on the Handicap Cup.
 
Semi Final Results
 
At Murrayfield last Wednesday a superb performance by the three youngsters of Edinburgh Sports Club II saw them sweep aside an excellent Penicuik I side by 5-2 and take them into the Handicap Cup final.
 
Edinburgh Sports Club II
John Hannah, –7, won 0
Jamie Crawley, scratch, won 3
Calum Morrison, –6, won 2
 
Penicuik I
Abby Wighton, +5, won 1
Colin Green, –12, won 0
Greig McDonell,-10, won 1
 
On Tuesday In the first part of the two-part semi-final Ian Moran of Murrayfield I won all three of his games taking a hefty advantage forward to the second part on Friday.
There was a gallant Attempt to claw back the deficit by Murrayfield IV with Lindsay Muir losing in three to Derek Croll and Gordon Muir just beaten in five sets by Colin Clark. With a notional 3-0 lead and those first two games going to Murrayfield I, Murrayfield IV could not catch their opponents and conceded the match.
 
Murrayfield I
Derek Croll, –6, won 1
Colin Clark, –7, won 1
Ian Moran, –6, won 3
 
Murrayfield IV
Lindsay Muir, –13
Gordon Muir, –14
Jake Cullen. -6
 
The Handicap Cup final will be played at Murrayfield on Wednesday 1 May with a 7 pm start.
 
It should be a great final and all spectators are welcome.
 
Please pass on this information to all those not on the circulation list who may be interested.

Following the success of the Christmas Masterclass Dave Fairholm and Peter Hurst are doing a repeat at Ladywood this Saturday.

Looking at a squad standard player so not suitable for beginners on this occasion.

If there are enough coaches we may split into a coaches course and a players course.

The cost is £10

Star player in the U21 & Junior Boys was Alasdair Rennett (D&D) who beat Connor Moran (Wos) twice in two good finals. Alasdair's masterful blocking evidently caused Connor considerable frustration.

Calum Morrison (Edin) played the starring role in both the Cadet & Minor Boys and Rachel Crawford (S&M)  was undefeated in the Junior & Cadet Girls. 
Faye Leggett (Edin) had a good day in the minor girls winning all her games in a group of five to take the title.

Martin Johnson captured the Under 11 Title following a three-way countback.

Click here for photos from the day

Click here for Full results

Playing schedule here,  http://bit.ly/RDTIME

Minor, Cadets and Juniors start at 10am sharp. U/21s to check in at 12:30pm latest.

Proposed Draw - http://bit.ly/RD-DRAW

There will tea/coffee and filled rolls available just outside the sports hall (No food to go into the Hall) 

All profits will be going to Maggies Centre Edinburgh

Any donations of home baking would be welcome

PLEASE NOTE: Tournament is at  BATHGATE ACADEMY, Edinburgh Road, Bathgate, West Lothian, EH48 1LF