Wins prove so elusive for local teams

WINNING men’s teams were in the clear minority among those from our three local squash clubs playing in last Thursday’s North West Counties League matches.

Two of the sides to taste defeat were the duo in Division Two East, who, as a consequence, continue occupying the places immediately above the drop-zone. Prestbury’s ‘Firsts’, in eighth, suffered their third consecutive 3-2 reverse - on this occasion against The Northern 2 at Bollin Grove, and despite victories by Mike Lomas and Adam Colebatch.

And, one position below, Bollington 1 are nine points clear of the relegation places - also after losing at home, as leaders Hyde 1 prevailed 4-1 at the village leisure centre. Bollington’s consolation win on the night came courtesy of Brigg Simpson, whose opponent retired injured in the fourth game.

In Division Three South-East, the ‘Bolly Seconds’ suffered the same scoreline as their First Team counterparts - with 16-year-old James Walton the sole victor in the course of a 4-1 reverse at Alsager 2. Bollington 2 drop a place to 11th, 10 points adrift of safety - and have been joined in the relegation positions by Prestbury 2, who were edged out by the odd match in five at Alderley Park against Club AZ 1. Graeme English and junior player Jonny Murray (15) both recovered from losing positions to win 3-2 and earn potentially crucial points for Prestbury.

Prestbury’s in-form ‘Thirds’ secured a fourth success in five matches, and remain fourth in Division Four South, following an emphatic 5-0 win at struggling Grove Park 5. Rob Thorneycroft, Andrew Worsley, Dave Jones, David Fitzpatrick and Rupert Richards ensured the collective rout.

Divisional companions Macclesfield 1, Bollington 3 and Prestbury 4 occupy the inclusive, and respective, positions from ninth to 11th. A win for James Douglas at first string was the only bright point of a 4-1 defeat at second-placed Alderley Edge 5 for Macc. But the ‘Bolly Thirds’ followed up their first win of the campaign from the previous week with a second, against Prestbury’s ‘Fourths’ at Bollin Grove.

Kevin Wynne and Pat Hunter both triumphed for the hosts, who were, however, ultimately pipped by Bollington’s middle-order of Gareth Ainsworth, Eugene Mole and 17-year-old Ben Gayne.

The Division Five South table-toppers Prestbury 5 hold on to first place - albeit with a lead now reduced to seven points, following a 4-1 defeat at home to promotion rivals Crewe Vagrants 6. Junior Rhys Asquith-Evans (13) was Prestbury’s only individual winner, although all his teammates picked up gamepoints in defeat to help keep the ‘Fifths’ ahead of the chasing pack.

Prestbury’s Sixth and Seventh Teams took each other on - with the ‘Sixths’, who are now up a place to fifth, earning a 4-1 victory thanks to wins by Dave Pearce and juniors Keon Raked (16), Kaamil Bhatti (14) and Ebrahim Mohammedbhai (13). Another junior, 13-yearold Archie Mattocks - like Ebrahim, enjoying his first-ever triumph - was successful for the ‘Sevenths’.

Bollington 4 drop a place to eighth after going down 5-0 at home to Alderley Edge 7 - whilst in ninth, following a jump of two positions, are Macclesfield’s ‘Seconds’ who were handed a walkover-victory as scheduled opponents Radbroke Hall 3 could not raise a team.

Three days earlier, in the Cheshire Ladies’ League, Prestbury’s First Team endured a tough evening, and remain bottom of Division Two after losing 5-0 away against unbeaten leaders Barnton 1. And in Division Three (b), basement-side Prestbury 2 suffered a similar fate at home to a strong Bowdon 3 side.

But at the opposite end of Prestbury 2’s division, Bollington continue to lead the way - preserving a 100 per-cent record, and extending their advantage at the top to 15 points - as Annika Hall, June White, Jennifer Robinson and Charlotte Middleditch all won to secure a 4-1 win at Village Hyde.