Longest Day most fruitful for five sides

THE Longest Day was rounded off most brightly last Thursday evening by teams from our local squash clubs - with all five sides registering North West Counties Summer League victories.

For South Division leaders Bollington 1, it was very much a case of business as usual. The table-toppers clocked up their seventh win out of seven, and extended their advantage over second-placed Club AZ 1 to 16 points, after seeing off the challenge of a strong Alderley Edge 1 line-up.

Rick Walters and Lyndon Stonier both edged out their opponents to clinch wins by the odd game in five - which, added to more straightforward triumphs for Christian Ogden and Gareth Ainsworth, ultimately got the ‘Bolly Firsts’ over the line with an overall 4-1 scoreline at the village’s leisure centre.

Basement side Macclesfield Squash, meanwhile, had been waiting since the campaign’s start to enjoy the sweet taste of victory - but, after six unsuccessful attempts, finally got to do so. Ollie Critchley, Annika Hall and Ken Nicholls won in straight games, as their team defeated Club AZ 2 at home 3-2.

While the division’s top and bottom teams remained in the same positions from the previous week, two others moved up the table as a result of their wins.

Bollington 2 jumped two places to fourth, after hosting Marple and thumping the struggling Stockport visitors 5-0. Mark Collins, Martin Ogden, Tom Grimes, Will Jordan and Andrew Berry ensured the collective rout.

And Prestbury 1 inched up a notch to lie eighth, following a 3-2 victory at Buxton. Chris Dunkerley and Dave Jones chalked up straight-games wins in Derbyshire, before Paul Bartle was successful over five to secure the overall victory and bonus points.

Finally, in the East Division, Prestbury 2 made it a clean sweep of successes for the town and nearby villages - emulating the club’s ‘Firsts’ with another 3-2 win away from home.

Captain Kevin Wynne, together with junior players Harry Mattocks (17) and Kaamil Bhatti (15), were all triumphant at Grove Park 1 to seal victory and a rise of one place to fourth.