Captain is confident for Linlithgow clash
BoA hope to see off struggling bottom side
Bridge of Allan’s squash stars will look to bounce back to winning ways when they head to the East of Scotland Division One’s bottom dogs Linlithgow tonight.
The Richardson and Starling sponsored side slipped to a 4-1 defeat at Watsonians after a lack of availability depleted their first pick line up.
But with a match against a Linlithgow side 13 points adrift at the foot of the table, captain Robin Bairner is confident.
He said: “Considering just how patchwork the nature of our side at Watsonians was we did well to take eight points and it’s good to be welcoming back Iain Logan and Roddy Campbell to the line-up.
“Young Jonny Brady, a hugely promising junior who has just joined us, did himself proud at Myreside, while Sabine Mackenzie also stepped in and was unlucky not to get win after a tough four setter. That said, if we have any aspirations of mounting a title challenge then the Linlithgow game is a must win match for us.”
Meanwhile the seconds underlined their determination to land back-to-back titles with an epic 3-2 home victory over Division Three leaders Heriot-Watt University that will send them to Dean tonight full of confidence.
The victory over the students was clinched by Scotland under-17 starlet James Dougan who, with the match poised at 2-2, claimed the fifth and decisive set 15-7 against Heriot’s skipper Calum Stout in a match that Minewood observers called the best of the season so far.
With skipper Martin Jack also triumphant in five gruelling sets and Martin Sanchez winning in four tight sets, the seconds go into their encounter with Dean in fine fettle.
Martin said: “There is no doubt the tie with Heriots has been our toughest since we were admitted to the East Leagues and we are delighted to have come through it with the win.
“But Dean are going well and as they have home advantage we know we will have to dig deep. I am looking forward to Jonny Brady getting his first run out with us and also welcoming back Bert Mitchell from a back injury.
“The bottom line is that if we want to close the 17 point gap between us and the top we need to win places like Dean.”
There is a week off for the thirds and skipper Neil MacKenzie says his squad will use the time to reflect and re-group after another near miss at Watsonians 4 last Thursday.
He said: “The defeat was really frustrating as there were so many tight games, but unfortunately things didn’t go our way.”
The ladies’ team go into their clash with Edinburgh Sports Club seconds on the back of a morale boosting 4-1 home win over Grange that has taken the girls fourth in the East Ladies league top tier.
Captain Sheena Logan said: “ESC 2 are top of the table and we know how tough this match will be but the girls have taken a huge lift from the victory over Grange which all hinged on an epic 3-2 victory by Clare Woodward at number five.
“The leaders will be a real test of our ability to build momentum.”