Bollington triumph in derby clash
THE second week’s round of fixtures in the North West Counties Summer League last Thursday saw four of the five teams from our local squash clubs in action.
Prestbury 1 were the side without a match, as a combination of court and player shortages on the part of their hosts saw a South Division trip to Glossop postponed, by mutual agreement, until early July.
East Division club-mates Prestbury 2, who had won on the opening night, looked to earn a follow-up victory at home to early table-toppers New Mills. But in spite of routine wins for Brian Lomas and Dave Jones, the ‘Seconds’ were edged out by the odd match in five by their buoyant visitors, whose two Winter League teams had achieved a notable double-promotion during April.
Back in the South Division, Macclesfield Squash received Bollington 1 in the first ‘derby’ of the competition. And the visitors made it two wins out of two, as well as claiming local bragging rights, with a 3-2 victory.
Malcom Kendrick and Neil Garner both prevailed for Bollington, before 13-year-old Sam White enjoyed a debut to remember by clinching the deciding string in straight games. Jon Stoker and Ken Nicholls picked up consolation victories on the night for so-far-winless Macc.
Bollington 2 emulated their club-mates to triumph 3-2 – and, in doing so, got off the mark for the summer - away at Buxton, who had lost by the same score to the other ‘Bolly’ team a week previously. Martin Ogden, Eugene Mole and Will Jordan all won to make sure of victory for the travelling ‘Seconds’.
The following (Friday) evening saw players at Prestbury involved in their well-attended annual Club Tournament.
The Men’s and Ladies’ Finals each saw the reigning champion triumph 3-1. Paul Lomas chalked up his ninth title after seeing off the challenge of two-time winner Nathan Mayers. And Jane Mackay re-claimed her crown for a 17th time in 20 Final appearances by beating Fran Taylor.
The other two matches featured five-game thrillers, together with one player common to both Finals. In a contest that was a credit to teenage squash at the club, 14-year-old Rhys Asquith-Evans edged out Harry Mattocks, three years his senior, to become Junior Champion. And Harry later went agonisingly close a second time in the Men’s Plate - only to go down fighting against the experienced Paul Minshull, who fought back from two games down to secure victory.