Prestbury off to winning start at Disley
WITH end-of-winterseason play-offs having been completed the previous weekend, last Thursday saw the North West Counties Squash Summer League begin.
As in 2017, both Bollington and Prestbury have entered two broadly-matched squads of mixed ability in the competition, while Macclesfield Squash are fielding a single side. Four of these five teams from our area have been allocated to the Southern Section - with the exception being Prestbury 2, who will this summer compete in the East Division.
Not that any notion of being seen as geographical outcasts appeared to bother Prestbury’s ‘Seconds’, mind - as they kicked off their campaign with a 3-2 triumph at Disley. Paul Bartle and Dave Jones both prevailed in straight games, and Phil Colville won 3-1, to ensure the victory - while debutant James Stott showed promise by taking the first game ahead of his 3-1 defeat.
In the South Division, Bollington 1 emulated Prestbury 2 by edging out Buxton 3-2 at the village’s leisure centre. Former ‘Buck’ Rick Walters led the way against his old club with a straight-games win over Keith Tolley, once of Prestbury, before both Neil Garner and Andrew Berry triumphed 3-1.
Unfortunately, that was as good as it got for local sides on the opening night - with two of our remaining representatives suffering 4-1 reverses at home, and the other going down 5-0 on the road.
Macclesfield endured the toughest start to the competition - coming away completely emptyhanded from Alderley Edge 1. With the hosts fielding four regulars from the Third Division, it was always destined to be difficult for Macc, who nevertheless fought creditably with their team of lower-division players.
Prestbury 1 and Bollington 2 emerged with some points to their names in spite of defeat. Adam Colebatch was Prestbury’s sole victor at Bollin Grove against a combined team from AstraZeneca and Radbroke Hall, as he edged his first-string tie by the odd game in five.
And, after bagging a walkover-victory at fifth string over their visitors Glossop, the ‘Bolly Seconds’ came close to claiming an overall win on the night through two junior players - only for Ben Gayne (18) and Sam Jordan (14) ultimately to be pipped, following valiant performances, over five games apiece.