BofA make Western work hard for victory
Captain Logan hails‘perfect preparation’
Bridge of Allan Sports Club’s defeat to Western has been described as the “perfect preparation” for the new squash season by acting skipper Iain Logan.
A composite team which featured players from the mens’ first, second and third teams and the ladies’ side pushed one of the West of Scotland Division One title favourites all the way in Hyndland, Glasgow, with the 5-4 outcome settled by a series of rollercoaster five-setters.
However Logie was in no mood to underestimate the importance of an almost pitch-perfect performance by his troops with the new campaign just a week away.
He said: “Western were probably just one player away from fielding their absolute full-strength side while we were without three firstteam starters so to push them to 5-4 was very pleasing.
“What was even more satisfying was the performance of our young guns James Dougan, Robbie Harper and Morgan McGuire.
“Robbie and Morgan were both very unlucky to lose five set matches and James faced one of the craftiest operators in the West top-flight in Liam Dickson. He will have benefitted hugely from the experience.
He added: “There was a social aspect to the match and it was just a great day of squash with some great banter.”
Although there were fine victories for Andy Meldrum, James Stewart and Sheena Logan, the quality of Western’s top of the order, which featured former Scotland under-19 number-one Steven Halliday and his brother Peter, proved decisive. Skipper Logan went down in five sets to the latter and Blair Christie was unlucky to lose another tight encounter to the former.
With BofA set to welcome back new club champion Andy MacBean, former number-one Scott Mosely and top-team stalwart Roddy Campbell for their league opener at Minewood next week against Grange, Logie remains bullish about their hopes for the campaign ahead.
He said: “Andy’s arrival at the top-of-the-order really strengthens us with everyone shuffling down one and hopefully that will help us to challenge in the top-half of the table.
“But I think, looking right down through the teams, the number of youngsters coming through is testament to the work being done by our head coach Jane Martin. We are all very optimistic about the season ahead.”
Meanwhile the first third-team training session was completed on Sunday with new skipper Stewart Penman delighted by the early indications from the opening sweat.
He said: “We had a great mix of youth and experience along and what was really good was the obvious development of our youngsters over the summer.”