Here’s the weekly round-up of Summer League north-west Squash action by Gareth Evans – Squash Column for Macclesfield Express
The resumption of North West Counties Summer League fixtures last Thursday, following a week’s break for half-term, brought mixed fortunes for the five teams from clubs in and around our town.
Prestbury 1, unlike the other four local sides, are playing in the East Division – but proving exceptional in more ways than one by heading the table.
The leaders’ latest victory – and their third in a row – came by way of a 4-1 triumph at Grove Park 1. Straight-games wins for Dave Jones and Phil Colville, together with successes for Mike Quartley and junior player Kaamil Bhatti (14) who each prevailed 3-1, saw their side go four points clear at the top.
Back in the South Division, Bollington 2 were the night’s other winners – edging out Buxton at home by the odd match in five to register a first victory of the campaign. Olli Stewart and Neil Garner saw off their opponents in straight games, while Will Jordan marked his Summer League debut with a 3-1 win.
This result enabled Bollington 2 to climb out of the basement position – leap-frogging not only their Derbyshire guests, but also club-mates Bollington 1 who themselves dropped into bottom place after losing 3-2 at new leaders Club AZ. Martin Ogden and Andrew Berry both won 3-1 at Alderley Park to give ‘Bolly 1‘ hope, but straight-games defeats in the other three strings left the side still searching for its inaugural Summer League success.
The two remaining South Division fixtures also produced 3-2 scorelines – albeit, unfortunately, not in the local teams’ favour.
Macclesfield Squash dropped a place to sixth after suffering a third consecutive defeat – on this occasion at Bollin Grove against Prestbury’s tenants, Radbroke Hall. James Douglas and veteran coach Bader Khan each triumphed 3-1 to establish a two-match lead for Macc. But third-placed Radbroke – for whom Prestbury loanees Paul Bartle and 13-year-old Rhys Asquith-Evans featured – fought back to claim the spoils.
Fourth-placed Prestbury 2’s home contest at the same venue was, if anything, even closer. Victories for the hosts’ top two stringers, Nathan Mayers and Brian Lomas, were eclipsed by successes at third, fourth and fifth strings for Alderley Edge – although two of those were only achieved by the visitors after gruelling five-game showdowns that kept the outcome in doubt until the end.