Youngsters get league up and running
WITH the British National Championships taking place last week, the North West Counties and Cheshire Ladies’ Leagues held over their respective fixtureschedules so that men’s and women’s teams could enjoy a mini-break from match action.
But the squashspotlight was able to remain switched on – turning as it could instead to younger players, as the North West Counties League, last Sunday, launched its inaugural round of Junior League matches.
The Macclesfield area is represented in the new League by two four-player teams apiece from Bollington and Prestbury – with each of the clubs’ ‘Firsts’ competing in Division One South, and their ‘Seconds’ starting out as Third Division South sides.
Bollington and Prestbury 1 each earned some points at the outset, on account of Bowdon 1’s failure to raise a side – reducing their First Division fixture on the day to a three-team affair with hosts Grove Park 1.
But, in spite of being a team short, the top tier’s opening round of matches produced some excellent squash - with an experienced Prestbury line-up coming out on top to register a pair of clean-sweep victories, as Harry Mattocks, Rhys Asquith-Evans, Ebrahim Mohammedbhai and James Paulson all won both of their matches for the combined loss of only two games.
The remaining contest, between Grove Park and Bollington, went the way of the hosts by three matches to one - although Bolly’s fourth-stringer Matthew Pond marked his team debut with a straight-games triumph.
The Division Three action took place just over five miles down the road at Alderley Edge – where, again, Prestbury’s young guns were on fire to see off each of their opponents in turn.
George Hine, Christian Beeston and Olivia Knight won all three matches in straight games, while Jacob Pack also did so against the hosts and Grove Park 3 – over both of whom Prestbury 2 triumphed 4-0.
The ‘derby’ between Bollington’s and Prestbury’s Second Teams ended 3-1 in the latter side’s favour, as Lewis Robins claimed a consolation victory for Bolly at fourth string.
In other matches involving the ‘Bolly Seconds’, they thumped Grove Park 4-0 - thanks to victories for Annie James, Connie Dewar and brothers Matt and Lewis Robins - while a closely-fought tussle with Alderley Edge also went their way on points. Connie Dewar and Lewis Robins were both successful in straight games - and, although the contest ended two matches apiece, the bonus award was made to Bollington, courtesy of a game won by Matt Robins during his 2-1 reverse.
The next set of Junior League fixtures will take place in a little under five weeks’ time - on Sunday, 24 March. On the evidence of last weekend, the future of the sport looks very bright indeed at clubs around our town.
North West Counties Junior League: Division One South (at Grove Park)
Bollington 1: won 4-0 (walkover) v Bowdon 1; lost 1-3 v Grove Park 1; lost 0-4 v Prestbury 1.
Prestbury 1: won 4-0 v Bollington 1; won 4-0 (walkover) v Bowdon 1; won 4-0 v Grove Park 1.
North West Counties Junior League: Division Three South (at Alderley Edge)
Bollington 2: drew 2-2 v Alderley Edge 1; won 4-0 v Grove Park 3; lost 0-4 v Prestbury 2.
Prestbury 2: won 4-0 v Alderley Edge 1; won 3-1 v Bollington 2; won 4-0 v Grove Park 3.