BofA veteran beats man forty years younger
Veteran Stevie McNally defied father time and an opponent a staggering 40 years younger than him to steal the spotlight at Bridge of Allan Squash Club and make East of Scotland Squash League history.
With the third team’s Division Five title hopes being dealt a late call-off blow ahead of their must-win top-of-the-table clash with leaders Watsonians IV, 64-year-old Stevie returned to the competitive fray for the first time this millennium.
Early victories for Robbie Harper and Kyle Penman were cancelled out by Gregor Gillon’s defeat, and the tie hung in the balance when Stevie took to the boards to face 24-year-old Ross Taylor.
After losing an epic first set 1614 on the tie-break, things didn’t look good, but an hour of seesawing, lung-bursting squash later the former Scotland over40 international held his nerve to claim the fifth and deciding set 15-13 to win the match for the thirds and set a record for the biggest age gap victory in East League squash against a by now distraught opponent.
“It was good to be able to help the team out, but I must admit with it having been so long since I last pulled on a BofA shirt I was a bit nervous and it didn’t help losing the first on a tie-break after having a couple of game balls!” said a delighted Stevie.
“I am just delighted to have come through and played my part in an important win that puts the thirds back on top of Division Five. It’s also nice to still be able to compete against a lad you are giving a few years to and show that there is plenty of life in the old dog yet.
“I don’t know anything about records, but it was just great to play my part.”
Meanwhile in Division One, the firsts, sponsored by Richardson and Starling, eased their relegation fears with a comprehensive 4-1 victory at Edinburgh University.
Ahead of tomorrow night’s visit from third-placed Watsonians I, skipper Robin Bairner said: “It was a case of stopping the rot and we did that very convincingly but now we must build on this win against Watsonians.
“We lost 4-1 at their place in the first half of the season and hopefully at home, with a strong team out we can take our revenge. If we can beat Watsonians it is the type of result that could really propel us back up the table and provide that extra confidence boost we need.”
In Division Two the seconds’ title hopes are all but over after they were outgunned 4-1 by Heriot Watt University I with captain Martin Jack admitting it was a night to forget in the capital.
He said: “The bottom line is that Heriot Watt were too good and with us being a shade understrength it hurt us badly.
“But we have a home game tonight with Grange and it’s about getting back on the horse at the first time of asking.”
In the Ladies Division One, a battling mid-order performance saw wins from Karen Robertson, Debbie Gillespie and Louise Hunter post victories that helped claim a 3-2 win over Waverley that has taken the BofA side into a seasonal high third place.
Ahead of the visit of leaders Edinburgh Uni, skipper Sheena Logan said: “It was a massive effort from the girls who came in and we will need all of that commitment and git against the leaders this week. But it’s great to look at the league table and see us sitting third and now we are there we want to stay there!”