NVL Preview (9th and 10th November) - Castle out to ignite promotion bid

With a 3-0 victory over Hull Thunder in their opening match at the end of October, Castle started their 2024-25 season on the front foot, yet they know they have a huge amount of work to do, with league leaders Leeds Gorse having already played six matches and won them all. 

Another team that narrowly missed out on top-flight competition this season, Black Country, have two matches this weekend - a trip to Exeter Storm on Saturday, followed by a match against another West Country side in Bristol on Sunday.  

The West Midlanders will recognise that the newly-promoted Storm will pose a challenge, especially after they knocked Super League University of Nottingham out of the National Cup last weekend.

 

Black Country, meanwhile, go into the clash on the back of a close 3-2 loss to London Aces last weekend and will be looking to secure six points over the weekend. 

Aces will host Tamworth Spartans, with the capital team currently sitting second in the league, just ahead of London Baks, with four wins and two losses so far. 

They will be seeking to close the seven-point gap between them and Leeds against opponents who have earned only three points from their first four games. 

Lincoln Cannons head to Humberside to face Hull Thunder at the Steve Prescott Sports Centre.  

Although currently bottom of the division with just one point, a win this weekend could see them rise as high as seventh if results go their way. 

In Division 2 Central, Rhinos Volley Cambridge (pictured top) aim to make the most of their match against MK City, which could see them end the weekend top of the table if Norwich Spikers can defeat Coventry and Warwick Riga. 

Loughborough Students will aim to carry the momentum from their National Shield victory into their home match against Northampton, who travel to Parkin Sports Centre on Saturday. 

Division 3 North Central features two triangular matches as Leicester host Wombourne 2 and GNG Bedford on Saturday, while Tamworth Spartans 2 welcome Nottingham Rockets and Black Country 2 on Sunday. 

Onyx London will host Guildford International and Essex Estonians at Aldridge Academy on Sunday in Division 3 South East, with Onyx aim to top the table ahead of taking on Dartford Chargers and current leaders Kent Invicta if they secure all six points. 

Division 3 South West sees six fixtures. City of Bristol will have a triangular with Weymouth and Bedminster, aiming to kick off their 2024-25 season with two wins.

Oxford Bulls (pictured), in second place, host Southampton 2 and Nuneaton Inferno. Southampton will begin their season this weekend, while Nuneaton and Oxford have each played two matches. 

In Women’s Division 1, six matches are set for the weekend, with Southampton, Essex Trinity, Richmond and Everton Belugas all playing twice. 

Propping up the table, Southampton will hope to gain momentum when they take on Essex Trinity on Saturday, followed by unbeaten Newcastle Knights on Sunday. 

The North East club go into their weekend after getting off to a strong start with two victories and yet to drop a set. 

Essex took two points against London Inter Crocs last time out and will aim to reach eight points if they in matches against Southampton and Coventry and Warwick Riga. 

Everton will host London Giants, who will seek to bounce back from their 3-0 defeat to Newcastle Knights last weekend, and also face Richmond, who head north to Stockport on Saturday. 

Richmond will be aiming to surpass last season’s fourth-place finish, but will have to overcome a disappointing start if they are to do so. 

The Miners Doncaster (pictured) will aim to make it two wins from two in league competition when Sheffield visits Campsmount Academy on Saturday. 

Dartford Chargers have two matches this weekend in Division 2 East, traveling to Norwich Spikers on Saturday and Herts on Sunday, still in search of their first win of the season. 

Team South Wales will try to build on their 3-2 success in their previous outing when they host Black Country on Saturday. 

The visitors will look to improve after their Shield defeat to Bedminster, who themselves will take on Bristol. 

In Division 3 North, Manchester Liberators will host local rivals Manchester Moss Side Jaguars and York Falcons on Saturday, with Liberators and Jaguars both unbeaten in the league, meaning something has to give. 

Darkstar Derbyshire 2 will host Rhinos Volley Cambridge and Leicester Athena Nova on Saturday, with all three teams sharing identical records of one win and one loss. 

In Division 3 South East, two of the three teams competing in their triangular, Essex Ravens and Dartford Warriors, have lost their opening two league games. 

They will look to get off the mark this weekend as they travel to Worthing, who have won their first two games. 

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