National Shield review – 28th and 29th September

Farnborough-based Phoenix (pictured below) put in an excellent performance and were the only non-NVL side in the women’s draw to progress to the last 32. 

They swept to a 25-17, 25-13, 25-20 victory over a Cheltenham and Gloucester side who are newly-promoted to NVL Division 2 West for the new 2024-25 season. 

There was no such luck for Birmingham City, the University of Leeds and Tonbridge, who went down in straight sets to Loughborough Students (25-17, 26-24, 25-19), Manchester Marvels (25-15, 25-13, 25-14) and Dartford Chargers (25-6, 25-17, 25-12) in that order.

Perhaps the women’s game of the round was the meeting of West Midlands’ Tamworth Spartans and East Midlands’ Ashfield Vipers. 

An upset looked like it could be on the cards as the Division 3 Central visitors won the first two sets 25-22, 25-21. 

However, the Division 2 North hosts came back to win the next two by a 25-13 scoreline to set up a decider, which they clinched 15-10. 

There were a number of five-set thrillers in the men’s competition across the Saturday and Sunday. 

On Sunday, Liverpool looked to be cruising against West Park Miners after taking the opening two sets, albeit by tight scorelines (25-23, 25-22). 

The South Yorkshire visitors took the next two by the same 25-18 margin, but just when the tide seemed to have turned, the home side rallied to clinch a hard-fought decider 18-16. 

It was just as tight in Berkshire, where Newbury held the ascendency in the early stages to go ahead 25-14, 25-19 against MK City. 

However, the NVL side fought back to win the next two 25-22, 25-21 and level at 2-2 before edging the fifth 15-13. 

It had been just as topsy-turvy a day earlier, where Weymouth headed off a Urbond Portsmouth fight back form to sets down to win 16-14 in the final set. 

Spelthorne Lions, Cambridge and York Vikings were also pushed the distance but were able to seal victory in their deciders in relatively comfortable fashion, prevailing 15-12 (against Watford), 15-8 (against London Bears) and 15-7 (against University of Leeds) respectively. 

Non-NVL teams to triumph included Telford, who were 3-0 (25-15, 25-20, 25-22) victors over fellow West Midlanders Tamworth Spartans 2 (pictured above), Portsmouth United, who beat Plymouth UTV Dragons 3-0 (25-16, 25-18, 25-16), Birmingham City, who defeated Wombourne 2 3-0 (25-14, 25-8, 25-16 and Cardiff Panthers, who saw off Weymouth 2 3-0 (25-19, 25-22, 25-17). 

Elsewhere, there was mixed fortunes for Loughborough Students (pictured above), who first team were straight sets victors over Black Country 2 (25-19, 25-21, 25-17) while their second team went down in straight sets at home to fellow East Midlands side Nottingham Rockets (25-18, 25-13, 25-21). 

Northampton edged out a battling, young Tendring side 25-13, 25-23, 25-22) and Everton Dugongs had just enough to see off the Isle of Man (25-18, 27-25, 25-21). 

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