Ladies face stiff Edinburgh test
U17 international Lucy Murchie to spearhead side
Bridge of Allan Ladies squash side will face a stiff test of their East Division One title credentials when they host Edinburgh Sports Club 2 at Minewood this week.
Scotland under 17 international Lucy Murchie will spearhead The Allanwater Brewhousesponsored side as they bid to close the gap on leaders Edinburgh University with a fine home win.
Skipper Sheena Logan admits that with a 19-point gap to the top, her troops have no margin for error on their home boards.
She said: “We are lucky to have a full strength side out with Lucy leading the way at number one, Sabine Mackenzie at two, myself at three, Pauline Douglas and Karen Robertson also playing and we will need to be at our best.
“In particular Lucy will face a real challenge when she plays Senga MacPhie who was once in the world top 30 and is a very wily operator.
“But if we are to have any hope of catching Edinburgh Uni this is a match we simply must win.”
Meanwhile the men’s firsts also face a defining encounter when they host leaders ESC 2 at Minewood tomorrow (Thursday) in what should be a pre-festive cracker.
They will go into the game waiting to hear the result of an appeal to East Squash bosses after Grange controversially called off from their visit to Minewood last week.
BofA have registered a complaint and squash convener Bert Mitchell confirmed: “Amazingly despite the fixture list having been out since September, Grange seemed to have an issue with their visit being on a Thursday night when our firsts play every home game. They also seemed to think that November 29 marked the start of the festive season, so they obviously like a party!
“All joking aside we have lodged a complaint with East Squash about their call-off which came less than 24 hours before the fixture was due to be played. Accommodating injury and illness is one thing but in terms of the rules we would expect them to be administered and that should mean 18 points that will take us into fourth.”
Should East Squash beaks slap an 18-point award BofA’s way they will move to within 24 points of the leaders with another 18-point haul available tomorrow night.
Tonight (Wednesday) the seconds host back-marking Waverley knowing that a home win is a must if they are to stay in touch with the mid-table pack.
Skipper Robin Bairner said: “We must win and win well against Waverley. If we can come out on top it would cut them adrift at the foot of the table and push us on to the coat tails of ESC3. So only our best will do.”
Elsewhere the thirds travel to Waverley 3rds knowing that a win on the road is vital if they are to reclaim some of the ground lost on Division Four leaders Watsonians over the previous two weeks.
Skipper Stewart Penman said: “We have had a tough time of it through injury and illness over the last two weeks and have slipped to third which is really frustrating. But we must put a stop to this and although we are stretched once again I believe we have the depth to meet the challenge.”