NVL review (5th and 6th October) - Bristol make ideal start to life in Division 1

A smattering of league matches as well as National Shield fixtures had taken place at the end of September, but this was the first competitive action for many sides after the summer break.  

Bristol, though, Division 2 South champions last season having only lost one league fixture (pictured above), picked up where they had left off with a flying start to life at the higher level with a brace of wins on the road.

First, on Saturday, the West Country side took on London Baks and emerged straight sets (25-19, 25-23, 25-20) victors in the capital. 

It proved to be a much tougher examination of their credentials on Sunday at Cambridge ARU where they were pushed all the way before edging it 15-13 in a deciding fifth set after twice coming back from a set down. 

Things did not go quite so swimmimgly for their closest rivals last season, Exeter Storm, as they returned home empty handed from two tough away trips. 

First, they were beaten 3-0 (25-18, 25-16, 25-15) at a Leeds Gorse side who are early pacesetters at the top of Division 1 with three wins from three in their quest to secure an immediate return to the DYNAMIK Super League following relegation last season.

The blue and whites then contested a much closer match in terms of set scores against a Hull Thunder side, who themselves have come up from Division 2 North, but it was the Humberside club that ran out 25-21, 25, 18, 30-28 victors.

Elsewhere in Division 1, Tamworth Spartans got their season off to a winning start, using home court advantage to bounce back from a set down to beat another newly-promoted side in Lincoln Cannons 3-1 (15-25, 25-20, 25-23, 25-21).

Just once match in Division 2 North saw Kings of Court Boston make the ideal start after going up from Division 3 North Central, beating Harrogate in a five-set thriller.

KoC twice trailed, but each time responded by levelling the match before clinching it 15-7 in the decider.

Another newly-promoted side, Rhinos Volley Cambridge enjoyed their first taste of Division 2 Central with a 3-1 win at Loughborough Students (26-28, 25-20, 25-14, 25-23).

The division’s other match-up saw Coventry and Warwick Riga chalk up a 25-12, 23-25, 37-35, 25-19 victory at Cambridge, with a mammoth third set success proving crucial.

Southampton were also away winners in Division 2 South as they proved too strong for a Hounslow team who reach the play-offs last season, sealing a 25-21, 25-14, 25-18 triumph.

There were good starts for Leicester, Nottingham Rockets and Wombourne in a busy weekend of triangular fixtures in Division 3 North Central.

Each of those came out on top in matches against Tamworth Spartans 2 and Darkstar Derbyshire 2,  Chester and Wombourne 2 and GNG Bedford and Black Country 2 respectively.

NVL newcomers Sheffield Springers were also smiling after their triangular against York Vikings and Urmston Grammar, taking advantage of nicking some close sets to win both matches 3-0.

In Division 3 South East, Kent Invicta showed they could well be one of the teams to watch as they overcome Urbond Portsmouth in a five-set thriller before a more routine success against Tendring.

In the women’s section, there were no Division 1 matches, but the two matches in Division 2 North saw straight sets wins.

Tamworth Spartans held their nerve in some tights sets against Loughborough Students to triumph 25-20, 25-22, 25-22, while it was a similar story for Manchester Marvels Mayhem in their trip across the M62 to face Everton Narwhals in a 28-26, 25-22, 27-25 scoreline.

The one game in Division 2 East saw Cambridge begin with an emphatic 25-10, 25-15, 25-12 success over Herts and in Division 2 West, Oxford Eagles powered to a 25-16, 25-11, 25-16 over Cheltenham and Gloucester, new at the higher level after winning promotion from Division 3 South West.

Both Leeds Gorse 2 and Leeds Gorse 3 were involved in weekend Division 3 North triangulars – with mixed results.

The thirds went first on Saturday and collected two wins – 3-0 (25-17, 25-21, 25-21) against Manchester Marvels Mystics and 3-1 against York Falcons (25-6, 25, 20, 17-25, 25-18).

For the seconds, it proved more difficult as they beat Hull Thunder in straight sets (25-18, 25-22, 25-17) but came unstuck against Manchester Moss Side Jaguars 3-1 (19-25, 25-18, 26-24, 25-21), who also beat Thunder in four (25-17, 25-27, 25-15, 25-11).

Lincoln Cannons had got the weekend action underway on Saturday morning with a 3-0 victory over Ashfield Vipers (25-19, 25-11, 25-18, pictured above) and followed it up with an even more convincing success over Coventry and Riga 2 (25-10, 25-15, 25-11).

The other match saw Ashfield get their season up and running by overcoming a narrow second set defeat to eventually triumph 3-1 (25-19, 26-28, 25-17, 25-17).

It was a fine start to Sussex Dolphins’ Division 3 South East campaign as they beat Spelthorne Sharks 3-0 and Dartford 3-2, winning 15-11 in the decider as the Sharks then beat the Warriors 3-1.

Reading Aces took the honours in the weekend’s Division 3 South West triangular, dropping a set against City of Bristol to win 3-1 but then getting the job done in straight sets against Southampton 2.

For all the NVL fixtures and results, click here.

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