NVL preview (16th and 17th November) - Gorse ready to go again after break

The West Yorkshire side will then head to Bristol on Sunday, hoping to make it eight wins from eight with a double success in the West Country. 

In their last match-up against Exeter Storm, Leeds secured a comfortable 3-0 victory, which was their second win of the season. 

Since then, the Purple and Oranges have gone on to win four of their six matches in straight sets. 

Only London Aces and Black Country have managed to take a set off them, meaning that any opponent will have to be on the top of their game to challenge the former Super League side. 

After mirroring Leeds’ forthcoming double trip to Exeter and Bristol last week, Black Country will host Hull Thunder on Saturday.  

The West Midlands team is looking to keep pressure on London Aces, who sit just two points ahead, though Aces have played an extra game. 

Hull will seek to climb the table with two matches this weekend, including a Sunday visit to Tamworth Spartans.  

The Humberside clubs hopes could be boosted if London Baks can help them by defeating Lincoln Cannons, which would Hull a chance to leapfrog them in the standings if they succeed in either match. 

Aces, meanwhile, host Cambridge ARU with promotion in their sights. Last time, Cambridge took them to five sets, so the capital club will aim to claim maximum points in this weekend’s return fixture. 

In Division Two North, four matches will take place this weekend.

 

Darkstar Derbyshire face Harrogate on Saturday, followed by three matches on Sunday. 

Wigan Seahawks entertain Newcastle Staffs 2, Kings of Court welcome Sheffield to Vivacity Werrington Leisure Centre, and Leeds Gorse 2 will travel to face Manchester Marvels.  

Only Kings of Court, Newcastle Staffs 2, and Manchester Marvels have played two matches this season. Wigan will aim for more than two points this weekend after a hard-fought 3-2 win over Harrogate last time out. 

Just two matches are scheduled in Division 2 Central, with Newmarket, boasting a 2-1 record, hosting nearby Cambridge, who are still searching for their first win.  

Northampton will take on Rhinos Volleyball Cambridge on Sunday, with the latter looking to extend their lead at the top of the table as Coventry and Warwick Riga sit out this weekend. 

Richmond Bucks have an opportunity to widen their advantage at the top of Division 2 South as they travel to face Hounslow, who are yet to secure a victory this season. 

The last fixtures in Division 3 North Central until 8th December see Wombourne, Darkstar Derbyshire 2 and Chester in a triangular.  

Wombourne could claim the top spot, ahead of Nottingham Rockets, if they achieve two wins this weekend. 

Both Darkstar 2 and Chester share identical records of one win and three losses, but the East Midlanders’ 3-2 victory over GNG Bedford means they currently tally is only two points. 

A busy weekend awaits Division 3 North West, with both Sheffield Springers and York Vikings hosting triangulars.  

Liverpool and Sheffield 2 will travel to the Steel City, while Manchester Moss Side and Intervolley Manchester head to across the Pennines. 

Springers, still unbeaten, could finish the weekend on 18 points with two victories, while their match against Liverpool could determine who ends the weekend at the top of the table. 

Division 3 South East and South West both feature triangulars. Weymouth host Southampton 2 and Bristol 2 in the South West, while Nuneaton Inferno will face Coventry and Warwick Riga and City of Bristol to the Alan Higgs Centre. 

In the South East, Tendring will battle with local rivals Essex Estonians and London Wildcats.  

Urbond Portsmouth will also host Guildford International and Dartford Crossers, all looking to improve their positions in Division 3 South East. 

In Women’s Division 1, six fixtures are scheduled. Stockport will host a winless Southampton and London Giants, coming off a victory last weekend, will welcome Essex Trinity to the National Sports Centre in Crystal Palace.  

Newcastle Knights, still unbeaten, will face Leicester Athena on Sunday as they aim to maintain their good early-season form. 

However, second-placed Trinity could still finish a busy weekend on top if they defeat both Giants and Richmond, who they face on Sunday. If they do, it would be a major boost as they strive to join their male counterparts in the Super League. 

Everton Belugas will host Southampton in the South Coast side’s second instalment of their trip to the North West. 

In Division 2 North, four matches involve battles at both ends of the table. 

Urmston Grammar, currently without a win, will travel to face league leaders Tamworth Spartans, while Manchester Marvels Mayhem, in second place, will host The Miners Doncaster (pictured above and top), who sit fifth after a 3-2 loss to Sheffield last week.  

Third-place Loughborough Students will face fourth-place Sheffield as Everton Narwhals meet Newcastle Staffs on Merseyside. 

In Division 2 East, Dartford Chargers and MK City have the chance to climb the table, as they are the only teams playing this weekend. 

Both Bristol and Bedminster have home fixtures in Division 2 West, with Cheltenham and Gloucester and Cardiff Falcons visiting respectively. 

In Division 3 North, Chester Amazons will host both Leeds Gorse 2 and Leeds Gorse 3 in a triangular, providing Leeds 3 with a shot at topping the table. 

Manchester Marvels Mystics could extend their one-point lead at the summit, however, when they travel to face Hull Thunder and Newcastle Staffs 2 in a Sunday triangular. 

With only four points separating the teams, the weekend could bring a reshuffling of positions in Division 3 Central, where Darkstar Derbyshire 2 take on Nottingham Rockets and Lincoln Cannons. 

An important trio of matches will occur in Division 3 South East as Worthing look to retain top spot and keep their 100% record with matches against Invicta and Spelthorne Sharks. 

In Division 3 South West, nine matches are being staged across three triangular fixtures. 

Just four points separate Bristol 2, Bedminster 2 and Southampton 2 and it’s equally tight between Portsmouth, Plymouth UTV, and City of Bristol where a successful weekend could the former up to second place. 

Finally, it will be a good opportunity for all of Weymouth, Plymouth and Reading Aces to make progress, albeit for different reasons. 

The Berkshire club currently top the table and will look to consolidate that standing, while Weymouth and Plymouth will be bidding to get off the mark.

Action images by Simon Clarke

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