Prestbury off the mark for summer
THE previous fortnight has seen all four teams from our local squash clubs in North West Counties Summer League action - with a mixed bag of results.
The fourth round of matches in the South Division, a week ago last Thursday, provided an opportunity for both Bollington 1 and Prestbury 2 to chalk up their first victories of the campaign. And the latter managed to do so impressively, as Nathan Mayers, Brian Lomas and Keith Tolley each won 3-1 to defeat second-placed Alderley Edge 2 by the odd match in five.
Bollington 1 must, however, wait a little longer for that winning Summer feeling – and remain at the foot of the table – having been on the wrong end of the same scoreline against Club AZ, despite wins by Gareth Ainsworth and junior player James Walton.
On the same night, Bollington 2 faced a tough test at home to unbeaten league-leaders Buxton.
Teenager Martin Ogden, who has lost only twice since the turn of the year, continued his fine run of form to prevail at fourth string, but the visitors returned to Derbyshire with a greater share of the overall points after winning 4-1.
Prestbury 1 had cause to thank their club’s other team - taking advantage of Alderley Edge 2’s defeat at Bollin Grove to leapfrog into second position following an emphatic 4-1 victory over (as coincidence would have it) Alderley Edge 1.
Paul Lomas, Stuart Melia and junior Greg Stanger all won in straight games, while Mike Brauckmann, for the second successive week, fought back from two games down to edge home in the fifth.
There was, alas, to be no hat-trick of Lazarus-like comebacks for ‘Braucks’ last Thursday, when Prestbury 2 visited Grove Park for a rearranged fixture. After conceding the first two games to Richard Slater-Hayes, he survived several match points before claiming the third but ultimately fell following a close-fought fourth.
A first-ever victory for 14-year-old Jonny Murray was the highlight of Prestbury’s performance – although that, together with captain Gareth Evans’ success, did not prove quite enough as their Cheadle Hulme hosts held out to win 3-2.