Two East duo coordinate rise up table

FOR the second week running last Thursday, not only did 12 of the 13 men’s teams from clubs in and around our town take to the courts for North West Counties League action - but, by the evening’s end, they were also once again evenly divided between victors and the vanquished.

And for the first time this season, both local representatives in Division Two East triumphed on the same night! Prestbury 1 continued a sequence of alternating between victories and defeats that stretches back to the first week in October, after edging matters 3-2 at Warrington 2, and leapfrogging the hosts into fifth, thanks to wins by Rob Alcock, Mike Lomas and Adam Colebatch.

Bollington 1 matched Prestbury’s rise of two positions by climbing to ninth, after an emphatic 4-1 victory at home to mid-table Marple 1. Christian Ogden, Rick Walters, Brigg Simpson and 17-year-old James Walton all won to seal a third victory in four matches for the ‘Bolly Firsts’.

The two clubs’ Second Teams experienced more mixed fortunes at the next divisional level. In Division Three SouthEast, Prestbury 2, after suffering a first defeat seven days earlier, bounced back up into fourth place as wins for Brian Lomas, Chris Dunkerley and junior player Jonny Murray (16) saw off previouslyunbeaten Alsager 1 by the odd match in five at Bollin Grove.

But, in the Third Division Central South, Bollington 2’s recent minirevival was interrupted by a 3-2 reverse at second-tobottom Disley 1. Lyndon Stonier and Martin Ogden picked up wins in vain for the ‘Bolly Seconds’, who slipped one position to seventh.

Both Prestbury sides in Division Four Central South were celebrating, after wins that could ultimately prove vital for different reasons.

The ‘Thirds’ moved up a place to fourth, and sounded a further declaration of intent to their promotion rivals by toppling the leaders on a second successive Thursday. Having deposed The Northern 5 the previous week, Prestbury 3 won 3-2 at new table-toppers Monton 3, following victories for Rich Curry, Paul Bartle and Andrew Worsley.

At the other end of the table, Prestbury 4 hosted and defeated The Northern 6 4-1 - with wins by David Fitzpatrick and Paul Wilson, as well as juniors Rhys AsquithEvans (14) and Kaamil Bhatti (15), propelling the ‘Fourths’ out of the relegation places and up two positions to 11th.

There was no joy to be had in Division Four South, where all three local teams suffered defeats and dropped one place. In the case of Macclesfield 1, who now lie fifth, it was a first loss since the inaugural evening of the campaign, following a trip across to leaders Glossop 1, who prevailed 3-2 - despite wins by James Douglas and Simon Evans for Macc.

Bollington 3 dropped to seventh, following a reverse by the same scoreline at home to struggling Marple 3. Victories for Aldo Palazzo and Rob Harland could not prevent a third loss in a row for the ‘Bolly Thirds’, while the losing run of Prestbury 5, two places below, is precisely twice that length following a 4-1 defeat at promotionchasing Buxton 1. John Bennett achieved a victory to console the ‘Fifths’ for their journey home from Derbyshire.

In the Cheshire Ladies’ League, both Prestbury 1 and Bollington maintained their respective fifth and eighth Division Two places following fixtures that ended 3-2.

Prestbury’s ‘Firsts’, for whom Helen Thaw and Judy Scorer were victorious, lost theirs - at home to unbeaten Brooklands. But Bollington’s win at City of Manchester 2, courtesy of successes for Annika Hall, Jen Robinson and Charlotte Dewar, was a first for the team since the season’s opening night.

In Division Three (b), Prestbury 2 dropped down to sixth place following a second successive 5-0 defeat - on this occasion, away to a highly-experienced Grove Park Second Team.