NVL Review (16th and 17th November) - Bristol inflict first defeat on Leeds

The West Yorkshire league leaders began the weekend with another dominant performance, defeating Exeter Storm 3-0 to maintain their unbeaten streak.

However, Sunday in the West Country told a different story as their run of victories at the start of the season was ended at seven.

Leeds started strongly, taking the first set 25-19, but the hosts fought back, claiming the second set 26-24.

Gorse regained momentum in the third with a 25-20 win, but Bristol dug deep, securing the fourth 25-17 to level the sets score at 2-2. 

With all the momentum on their side, Bristol then clinched the fifth and deciding set 15-11 to boost their own promotion aspirations and take their season record to 4-2.

Despite this setback, Leeds remain top of the table with 22 points, seven ahead of their closest challengers though some of the sides with games in hand - notably Newcastle Staffs - will hope to make up ground.

Aces continued to keep up the chase with a 3-0 (25-12, 25-16, 25-20) victory over Cambridge ARU and now sit on 15 points. They will face Lincoln Cannons on 30th November before two more matches to head into the Christmas break.

Another team securing a clean sweep this weekend was Black Country, who defeated Hull Thunder 3-0 (25-23, 25-17, 26-24) after coming through two very close sets. 

The Humberside club, still rooted to the bottom of the table, also suffered another 3-0 loss (25-21, 25-16, 27-25) on Sunday to Tamworth Spartans, who now sit sixth with an even record after recovering from a slow start to the season.

Lincoln Cannons boosted their survival hopes with a 3-1 victory over London Baks (25-20, 25-18, 19-25, 25-16), making it two wins on the spin to lift themselves up to seventh.

In Division 2 North, Darkstar Derbyshire registered a first victory with a 3-1 (22-25, 25-17, 25-20, 25-19) win over Harrogate, hitting back well after dropping the first sety.

Manchester Marvels continued their winning form, securing their third consecutive victory by defeating Leeds Gorse 2 in four sets (25-27, 25-21, 25-13, 25-22) to move two points clear at the top.

King of Court dropped a point for the second this season, despite three wins from three, as they earned two afte opponents Sheffield claimed the second and third sets in their five-set epic.

The Boston-based side eventually prevailed 15-10 in the decider and are two points adrift of the Marvels.

Wigan Seahawks fell short against Newcastle Staffs 2, losing 3-1 (25-19, 25-22, 15-25, 25-19) despite a spirited third-set fightback.

Division 2 Central saw only one match, where Cambridge Rhinos outplayed hosts Northampton for a 3-1 triumph (25-19, 25-18, 21-25, 25-15) to extend their lead at the summit to five points.

Hounslow handed Richmond Bucks their first defeat of the season with a decisive 3-0 victory (25-17, 25-21, 25-23) in Division 2 East, but the London club nevertheless remain top fop of the pile.

Chester enjoyed a successful triangular weekend in Division Three North Central with wins over Darkstar 2 and Wombourne. 

They breezed past Darkstar 3-0 (25-17, 25-14, 25-15) but were pushed to the brink by Wombourne, taking a tight first set 25-23 before dorrping the second and third 25-22, 25-19 and then rallying to win the fourth and fifth sets (25-16, 16-14).

In Division 3 North West, Liverpool and Sheffield Springers now share identical 5-1 records after the latter defeated the former, handing them a first defeat of the campaign. 

It was the perfect weekend  for the Merseysiders who notched two 3-0 victories, defeating Sheffield 2 and later outlasting the Springers, who managed a 3-0 win over their city rivals in their third match to salvage some points.

Manchester Moss Side also claimed the full six points, defeating York Vikings and Intervolley Manchester, while the Mancunians found success with a 3-0 victory over York to move up to eighth place.

It is now six wins from six for Invicta in Division 3 South East, with their latest two victories coming against Onyx and Worthing, who themselves battled out a five-set thriller where the London club came from 2-1 down to beat Worthing 3-2.

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In Women’s Division 1, Newcastle Knights smade it four wins in a row at the start of 2024-25, defeating Leicester Athena Phoenix 3-0 (25-17, 25-19, 25-18) to stay top of the table. 

They are tied on points with Essex Trinity, who missed the chance to move above their rivals, but who still earned four points over the weekend despite a 3-2 (25-9, 17-25, 22-25, 25-23, 15-10) loss on Saturday to London Giants, who are handily placed in fifth.

That was after the Essex side bounced back on Sunday with a commanding 3-0 victory (25-17, 25-18, 25-23) over Richmond, who have endured a frustrating start to their campaign.

Everton Belugas delivered a dominant 3-0 win (25-12, 25-14, 25-20) against Southampton, who remain winless this season and the South Coast club also lost 3-1 to Stockport, despite claiming the second set 25-21.

Newcastle Staffs kept pace with Everton Narwhals in a thrilling contest that saw momentum swing with every set in Division 2 North.

Each team traded blows, taking turns to claim sets, but the decisive fifth set ultimately went the way of the Liverpool club, who clinched it 15-13.

Dartford Chargers faced a spirited third-set resurgence from MK City but managed to hold their nerve and secure a 3-1 victory (25-19, 25-14, 21-25, 25-16) in Division 2 East.

In Division 2 West, Bedminster and Bristol continued their dominance at the top of the table. Bedminster earned a hard-fought 3-1 win against Cardiff Falcons, while Bristol cruised to a 3-0 victory over Cheltenham and Gloucester.

Leeds Gorse 3 maintained their place at the summit in Division 3 North, with two successes over the weekend. They edged out their club rivals, Leeds Gorse 2, in a gripping 3-2 match before sweeping Chester Amazons 3-0.

Chester also managed to pick up points in their match against Leeds Gorse 2, eking out a narrow 3-2 victory (22-25, 25-23, 21-25, 25-22, 15-13) against the West Yorkshire side.

On Sunday, Division 3 Central featured a local derby between Nottingham Rockets and Darkstar Derbyshire, as well as a match involving Lincoln Cannons. 

The Rockets staged a remarkable comeback against Darkstar, overturning a 2-0 deficit (25-23, 25-13) to snatch victory in five sets (25-23, 25-20, 15-13).

The Cannons couldn’t match their men’s team’s success this weekend, falling 3-1 to the Rockets and 3-0 to Darkstar Derbyshire, denting their promotion hopes. 

Despite these setbacks, they remain fourth in what is shaping up to be a tightly contested table. Darkstar hold steady in second place, while the Rockets move up to third.

Wombourne preserved their perfect record with two commanding wins in their triangular weekend against Cambridge Rhinos and Coventry and Warwick Riga. 

Wombourne’s dominance was clear as they took both matches in straight sets, winning 26-24, 25-11, 25-22 against the Rhinos and 25-19, 25-22, 25-16 against Riga.

The Rhinos salvaged something from the weekend with a convincing 3-0 victory over Riga, leaving the Coventry side rooted at the bottom of Division 3 Central.

Division 3 South East saw three matches end 3-1. Worthing claimed two wins, defeating both Invicta and Spelthorne Sharks. The Sharks then turned things around in their match against Invicta, earning their own 3-1 victory during the triangular at Maidstone Grammar.

Worthing’s undefeated streak continues, and for their inaugural NVL season, they are making a strong case for promotion.

In Division 3 South West, Portsmouth shone with two flawless victories in their triangular against Plymouth UTV and City of Bristol. 

These results propel Portsmouth to fourth in the standings. Meanwhile, Reading Aces remain atop the table after notching two 3-0 wins against Plymouth and Weymouth.

Although Weymouth have yet to record a win, they showed potential by taking the opening set 25-22 off Plymouth.

For a full list of results from the weekend, click here.