James delighted to land player of the year title
‘Winning shield is an honour’
Scotland Under-17 international James Dougan is delighted after claiming the Bridge of Allan Sports Club squash team Player of the Year title.
The 17 year-old Dunblane High School pupil took the coveted Minewood Shield after racking up an unbeaten campaign as he spearheaded the BofA seconds’ drive to the East of Scotland Third Division Title.
His seismic season saw him beat off stiff opposition in the shape of club champion Scott Mosely, third team warhorse Dan MacDonald and rising starlet Louise Hunter.
The ecstatic teenager was presented with the shield by club president Walter McAllister at the team’s end of season curry night at Rana’s Indian Restaurant in the village with help from Rana’s manageress Ruta Pavyolyte. James said: “Winning the Player of The Year Shield is a massive honour when you look at some of the club legends who are on it like Martin Jack, Roddy Campbell and Martin Sanchez and I’m just delighted to follow in their footsteps.
“It also matters the winner is voted for by the team captains and club president and it has rounded off a tremendous season coming after winning the third division title with the second team.”
The accolade was perfectly timed after he delivered what was the standout performance of an unblemished campaign just 24 hours earlier in the East of Scotland Championship Trophy semi-final at Colinton Castle on a hugely frustrating night for the BofA seconds.
Producing a display of growing maturity and dexterous shotmaking, combined with his trademark athleticism, James took out former Scotland top 10 star Todd Rutherford in four sets in an encounter that had a packed balcony enthralled.
With Jonny Brady and Martin Sanchez losing two hotly contested mid-order encounters, promising newcomer Jamie Campbell levelled the tie at 2-2 and with Martin Jack, at fourth string, cruising at two games up and 11-7 in front in the third game, the BofA seconds seemed destined for their first ever cup final.
But disaster struck as Jack suffered a recurrence of a hip injury and despite gamely battling on his lack of mobility cost him a five-set defeat.
Elsewhere the third team ended their division five campaign on a high with a 4-1 trouncing of Dean seconds which saw them finish a creditable ninth in the basement league.
With wins for Steve Bicknell, Robbie Harper, Ross Waddell and Dan MacDonald the only setback was suffered by Walter McAllister at number three.
Crocked captain Neil Mackenzie was delighted with his side finishing on a high and said: “We have been improving steadily over the secondhalf of the season and to finish with a convincing home win that has taken us to a seasonal high of ninth is an accurate reflection of that.
“All of the players deserve great credit for their efforts and I think we have laid down a marker for next season.”
Meanwhile the ladies team concluded their debut campaign in the East Ladies top tier with a respectable fifth placed finish.