Winning ways the theme for town’s teams
FOR the first time during the current year’s North West Counties Summer League programme, winning teams from our three local squash clubs were in the majority a week ago last Thursday (7 June).
Two of the three sides to enjoy the taste of victory were those at Bollington - who, as a result, both continued to occupy top-five positions in the South Division.
Bollington’s ‘Firsts’, in particular, are certainly making winning a habit - with their 4-1 home ‘A523 derby’ triumph against Prestbury 1 having kept them in first place, with a five-point cushion and a 100 per cent record.
Neil Garner, Tom Grimes and Andrew Berry all won without conceding for the hosts, and Gareth Ainsworth fought back from two games down to edge out visiting captain Mike Quartley over five – before Rob Alcock took the consolation honours in straight games at first string for ninth-placed Prestbury.
Bollington 2, meanwhile, went fifth after hosting and beating a combined team from AstraZeneca and Radbroke Hall. Will and 14-year-old Sam Jordan made it a father-and-son double for the
‘Bolly Seconds’, and Rob Harland secured a straight-games victory, as their side prevailed 3-2.
Macclesfield Squash remained at the foot of the table, and without a win, after suffering a 5-0 defeat at Glossop. A single game-point, earned by Jon Stoker, was all that accompanied the travelling team back from Derbyshire to Macc.
But in the East Division, sole local representatives Prestbury 2 became the third of our clubs’ sides to win on the night. Andrew Worsley, Ben Parker and Chris Murray were all victorious at Grove Park against basement outfit Stockport - while Mike Brauckmann and junior player Archie Mattocks (13) picked up two games apiece in the course of narrow defeats there - to keep their side handily placed in fourth following the campaign’s halfwaystage.
Seven days later (14 June), both Bollington teams were again successful as they each maintained a good run of Summer League form.
Bollington 1 remain at the top of the South Division - and, in the light of a defeat last Thursday for Glossop, are now that section’s only unbeaten side - following a 5-0 triumph at struggling Marple.
Rick Walters clinched his first-string contest by the odd game in five for the ‘Bolly Firsts’, while Martin Ogden’s 3-1 victory, together with straight-games wins by Lyndon Stonier, Neil Garner and Rob Harland, completed the leaders’ collective rout.
Their biggest dangers in the race for the title are Club AZ 1, who now sit just four points behind in second place after a line-up that included on-loan Prestbury junior player Rhys AsquithEvans (14) saw off still-winless basement side Macclesfield Squash at Alderley Park. Jen Robinson picked up the lone victory in the course of a 4-1 defeat for Macc.
Bollington 2 emulated the feat of Bollington 1 from seven days earlier by beating local rivals Prestbury 1.
A 3-2 triumph for the ‘Bolly Seconds’ at Bollin Grove actually saw them slip down a position to sixth - although they will doubtless take that in exchange for having won the bragging rights over their near-neighbours, who remain one place off the bottom. Wins for Christian Ogden, Mark Collins and 13-year-old Jack Walton got Bollington over the line – with Mike Brauckmann and Alan Whiston each edging a five-game match for the hosts.
A second fixture on the night at Prestbury saw the club’s East Division side go down 4-1 against Hyde. Brian Lomas - facing one of three juniors fielded by the visiting table-toppers - was the only player to triumph for Prestbury 2, who drop a place to fifth.