Prestbury 1 top the table
FOR the second week running, last Thursday’s round of matches in the North West Counties Summer League involved four of the five teams from our local squash clubs.
Once again, too, a Bollington side was granted a free evening by the fixtures computer - with eighth-placed ‘Bolly 1’ the team to sit out on this occasion, having kicked off their campaign with a pair of defeats in the competition’s opening fortnight.
Bollington 2 returned to action following their night off the previous Thursday, but also remain without a win – and at the bottom of the table – after travelling down to Willaston, and suffering a 5-0 reverse against South Division pace-setters Crewe Vagrants.
The unbeaten hosts fielded a strong line-up that provided Bollington’s players with a tough set of challenges - but, more positively, some valuable match experience ahead of the forthcoming 2017/18 campaign in which two of the club’s winter teams will compete at a new, higher level. And Christian Ogden and Rick Walters each ran his top-order opponent very close, before being edged out in the fifth game.
Elsewhere in the South Division, Macclesfield Squash, in fifth place, played host at the town’s Leisure Centre to Prestbury 2 - with the visitors securing a second successive 3-2 victory to move up to third.
The local derby featured two pairings who took their contests to five games. Annika Hall, for the hosts, got over the line against Prestbury’s Alan Whiston, and a high-octane runaround at second string saw Prestbury junior Jonny Murray (15) eventually triumph over Daz Glazer. Mike Brauckmann and Dave Jones added straightgames victories to the winning Prestbury tally, while Jon Stoker did likewise for Macc.
The other team from Bollin Grove - plying its summer trade in the East Division - also won by the odd match in five for the second week running. Better still, Prestbury 1 now top the table after hosting and beating New Mills.
Rob Thorneycroft celebrated his return to action from a knee injury with a 3-1 triumph at second string, and was joined in victory by Stuart Melia and 15-year-old Harry Mattocks - both of whom enjoyed straight-games wins against their Derbyshire opponents.
The Summer League is taking a break to coincide with half-term this week, but will resume with a full set of fixtures a week tomorrow (Thursday, 8 June).