NVL preview (19th and 20th October) - Gorse visit Black Country in early test

There is an intriguing Saturday clash in Men’s Division 1 as Black Country, who finished third behind the promoted Essex Blaze and London Giants last season, host a Leeds Gorse side who are early pacesetters and hoping for a swift return to Super League after relegation. 

Gorse are also in action on Sunday, this time at home to Cambridge ARU, and a brace of wins could see them open up an early advantage at the summit. 

Black Country also double up, travelling to fellow West Midlanders Tamworth Spartans. 

Newly-promoted Bristol, who have two wins from two, protect their 100 per cent record at home to London Aces on Sunday, with the capital side first facing Exeter Storm the day before.  

Another side promoted for this season, Hull Thunder, entertain Cambridge ARU on Saturday. 

Manchester Marvels get their season up and running in Division 2 North with a double header away at Newcastle Staffs 2 and then at home Darkstar Derbyshire the following day, with both opponents also playing their first league game of the season. 

Other sides to be starting their campaigns are Wigan Seahawks (pictured above), who host Harrogate and Leeds Gorse 2, who host a Sheffield side also keen to get underway. 

There are eight teams across four matches playing a game each over the weekend in Division 2 Central. 

Coventry and Warwick Riga will hope to retain leadership of the table after winning their opening games as they welcome Rhinos Volleyball Cambridge, who were also victorious in their first game. 

Loughborouugh Students will hope to get off the mark after a tricky start to the season as they face Cambridge, while Newmarket meet Northampton. 

Those three games take place on Sunday after Norwich Spikers have hosted an MK City team who are the only side in the division yet to get their league campaign up and running. 

Division 2 South features two teams who are unbeaten in the early stages of the season as Richmond Bucks (two wins) visit Wessex (one win). 

Both sides also play on Sunday as Bucks host Cardiff Panthers and Wessex entertain Hounslow, knowing a maximum points haul for either would see them cement a strong start to their campaign. 

No matches take place in Division 3 North Central this weekend, but there is a triangular fixture on Division 3 North West, where Manchester Moss Side, Manchester Marvels Marauders and Liverpool meet at Fairfield High School to play their first league games of 24-25. 

Two triangular fixtures are being staged in Division 3 South East and something has to give in the first of them as Kent Invicta and Dartford Crossers protect unbeaten records, with Essex Etonians the third team involved. 

At Leigh Academy Blackheath, Onyx London, London Wildcats and Urbond Portsmouth go head to head, with the latter two teams looking to secure their first victories of the season. 

Division 3 South West has no league action this week. 

In the women’s section, just one match has taken place in Division 1 so far, but that changes significantly this weekend. 

One of the two sides who have so far played, Leicester Athena Phoenix, host Richmond at New College, Leicester on Saturday, and the Londoners then play Coventry and Warwick Riga on Sunday before returning home. 

The West Midlanders will also face London Giants (above) over the weekend – a side who were unbeaten in Division 2 South throughout 23-24 – while the other Saturday game sees London Inter Crocs entertain another newly-promoted side in the shape of Essex Trinity. 

On Sunday, Everton Belugas make the long-trip to the South Coast to take on Southampton. 

In Division 2 North, Urmston Grammar have a Saturday double header as they welcome first The Miners Doncaster and then Sheffield to Greater Manchester. 

They play a third match of the weekend on Sunday as the make the short trip to Manchester Marvels Mayhem, while Tamworth Spartans host Everton Narwhals and Newcastle Staffs visit Loughborough Students in the other two games. 

Norwich Spikers play on both days as they get their season underway, first hosting MK City and then travelling to Herts. 

Northampton versus Cambridge and Onyx London – unbeaten last season at Division 3 level – versus Richmond 2 are the division’s other encounters, both on Sunday. 

The two matches in Division 2 West see Oxford Eagles welcome Cardiff Falcons across the border, while Bristol host another Welsh side in Team South Wales. 

There are no matches at the weekend in Division 3 North, but unusually, there is a fixture on Wednesday night, as Leeds Gorse 3 take on Leeds Gorse 2.  

While Division 3 Central and Division 2 South West are without matches, a triangular in Division 3 South West will see the teams involved – divisional newcomers Bedminster 2 and Weymouth, along with Plymouth UTV – seeking their respective first wins of the season. 

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