Super League Opening Weekend 2024 - day one review

The Knights, who have taken on the running of last year’s Team Sunderland, were underdogs going into the match – on the basis of last year’s respective league table finishes at least.

But they quickly rose to the occasion and stormed into a two-set lead, taking them 25-22, 25-23, with the sides evenly matched, but the North East side clinching the crucial points.

Malory went into the third set knowing it was must-win and they duly obliged – just – in a nail-biter, coming through 27-25 as hard-hitter Nathan Fullerton and Kelechi Bell went blow for blow.

The Eagles then carried on their charge to take it in a decider, winning the fourth set 25-21, rewarding those supporters who had stayed on until the very end.

If levelling up suggested a swift in momentum, then it was not the case as Sam Shenton’s side came storming back into it in the tie break and deservedly clinched the match 15-12.

For Malory it was a second disappointing start to the season in as many Opening Weekend fixtures after being surprised by then newly-promoted Stockport last season.

For the Knights, it represents the perfect start to the rebirth of the club – progress they will hope to maintain during the rest of the 2024-25 season.

Player of the Match James Ledbury said on winning the crucial fifth set: “Shents (Shenton) said in the break (between the fourth and fifth set) that we needed to improve our service pressure.

“He said we were serving too much to Dan Hunter, who has been to the Olympics, and we went back to serving to the two outsides, so credit to him and the other coaches.

“It’s been fun having the new players... we have and almost a refresh for the team. Everyone has come in and been super-committed and it’s been great so far.”

The day had opened with the University of Nottingham getting their season off to a flyer with a 3-1 win over newly-promoted Essex Blaze.

The Green and Golds swept into a two sets lead on the back of some power hitting from Sam Peter and Griffin Walters, but the newbies did not buckle.

With former London 2012 Olympian Nathan French among their numbers, they hit back to take the third set and keep Nottingham waiting.

But the East Midlanders were not to be denied and wrapped up the match in four to make it a very encouraging start to the campaign for Head Coach Freddie Fairburn.

University of Nottingham’s Player of the Match Griffin Walters said: “It’s my first time in the Super League and there is such a unique volleyball culture here in England and it has been so much fun playing with all the guys.

“There is myself and Sam Peters who have come over for the US and we have joined an amazing group of players who are willing to work super-hard.

“With losing the third set, it’s about being able to put our foot down when we are in the lead, maintain the hunger to win and push on in those moments.”

In the second match, Essex Rebels made a statement with a comprehensive 3-0 victory over IBB Polonia, the team that beat them in the semi-finals of Final 4 at the end of last season.

After an initially shaky start, they took charge of the first set to win it 25-14, demonstrating a variety of strong options in attack.

They carried that momentum into the second and third sets, clinching them 25-18, 25-17 to send Head Coach Alex Porter home a happy man.

Player of the match Daven Pascal said: "I heard from a lot of the guys that there is a pretty big rivalry between the two teams, so we had marked it on the calendar, but also we have a lot to prove this year.

"We had a lot of good pre-season work-outs so that everyone was ready to go from the first point.

"Myself and the other Canadians on the team are really enjoying it here - even if the weather's cold - but we have fitted in well with everyone."

An absorbing third match saw northern side Stockport face capital-based Richmond Docklands in a fiercely-contested match where to-and-fro points were the norm.

It was the Londoners who forged into a two-set lead as their superior finishing power saw them prevail by scores of 25-19, 25-18.

But the Greater Manchester club were by no means finished and, inspired by Haydn Lawson, produced a rousing fightback to take a titanic third set 29-27.

But Richmond were not to be denied and closed out the match in the fourth set by a 25-21 scoreline for an overall 3-1 triumph.

Player of the Match Abdimalik Shukri said: "The main thing about playnig with Richmond is that they are such a great set of guys - we are all good friends off the court, which helps with the chemistry.

"Even though there were times where it got really close, we were consistent in what we did.

"We want to win every game we can - that's the goal. We came fifth last season and the Final 4 is seeing us this season, that's for sure."

Newly-promoted London Giants showed they are likely to be a force to be reckoned with this season, with a strong showing in their match with reigning champion Durham Palatinates in what was the day's penultimate fixture.

Backed by a vocal following of supporters, they took the first set off the North Easteners and were particularly effective at the net early on with some strong blocking.

But the much-changed Palatinates gradually worked their way back into the match, levelling at 1-1 by taking the second set 25-20 before easing away in the third and fourth to clinch them 25-21, 25-17 and, with it, the match.

Player of the Match Chey Cooper said: "I think we got better throughout the game. I start was a little bit shaky, but once we got back together we felt we could get on and win the match.

"I think there were nerves in that first set as were getting into it and then in sets two, three and four we clicked into gear.

"As the game went on we got better, especially with our service, which made a difference.

"Can we win the Super League again? 1,000 per cent - that's what we are all here for."

---

To purchase tickets to watch Sunday's Opening Weekend 2024 matches in Kettering, click here.

For all the Super League fixtures, results and latest news, click here.

Keep up to date with all the action via our social media channels... Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and X.