NVL Preview (18th and 19th January) - Aces and Black Country men and Knights and Belugas women face off

Second take on fourth in Men’s Division 1 on Sunday when London Aces, with an 8-3 record, play Black Country (6-3), with both sides looking to boost their respective promotion pushes. 

The Capital side are also in action on Sunday as they bid to make ground on leaders Leeds Gorse when visiting another west Midlands side in Tamworth Spartans. 

Another team also playing twice is Lincoln Cannons, who host both Newcastle Staffs (Saturday) and Cambridge ARU (Sunday).

Mid-table London Baks complete the fixtures by hosting an Exeter Storm side three places and two points below them. 

There are two fixtures in Division 2 North, with high-flying Kings of Court taking on another side with promotion aspirations in Darkstar Derbyshire after a largely inactive first half of the season. 

Elsewhere, Harrogate will go in search of a first win of the season as they welcome fellow strugglers Newcastle Staffs 2 to the Rossett Sports Centre. 

Both Cambridge-based sides will be in action in Division 2 Central’s two fixtures, with Cambridge, still without a league win this season, hosting MK City on Saturday and leaders Rhinos Volley Cambridge entertaining Coventry and Warwick Riga on Sunday. 

Wiltshire Mavericks have a double header on Saturday but have their work cut out in hosting second-placed Wessex and unbeaten Southampton, who are third. 

There are no matches in Division 3 North Central, but a Sunday triangular in Division 3 North West pits could see Manchester Moss Side put pressure on Sheffield Springers and Liverpool at the top if they can overcome Manchester Marvels Marauders and Everton Dugongs. 

Having played four less games than those immediately above them, Guildford International will bid to move off the bottom of Division 3 South East as they take on mid-table Worthing and Tendring on Saturday. 

Bedminster are the highest ranked team in Division 3 South West as they prepare to take on Coventry and Warwick Riga 2 and hosts Nuneaton Inferno. 

In the women’s section, there are no less than six matches in Division 1, with Newcastle Knights looking to bounce back from their National Cup exit at the hands of Malory Eagles by remaining unbeaten in the league and retaining top spot. 

They can look forward to a home double against two North West sides, with Stockport (pictured below) visiting on Saturday and second-placed Everton Belugas on Sunday. 

London Giants in third will look to capitalise on at least one of those top two teams dropping points when they host a Coventry and Warwick Riga on Sunday, who will alreadxy have taken on Richmond in the capital the previous day. 

Sitting fourth, Essex Trinity go head to head with Leicester Athena Phoenix at John Payne School, while London Inter Crocs, who have played less games in the division than anyone else, go to winless Southampton. 

The Miners, Doncaster can go to the Division 2 North summit should they travel to beat Everton Narwhals on Sunday as current leaders Manchester Marvels Mayhem are without a game. 

If the South Yorkshire team slip up, however, third place Tamworth Spartans could go level on points with them by getting the better of Newcastle Staffs in convincing fashion. 

Onyx have two chances to register their maiden victory of the season as they travel to fellow strugglers MK City (Saturday) and Herts (Sunday). 

At the other end of the table, Cambridge have the opportunity to go level points clear of they can see off the challenge of Dartford Chargers on their own court. 

Six teams feature on three Division 2 West games, with the pick of them the top versus second clash as leaders Bedminster visit the unbeaten Team South Wales. 

Conversely, something will have to give as Black Country and Cheltenham and Gloucester, neither of whom have experienced that winning feeling in league matches this season, meet at the Cleobury Mortimer Sports Centre. 

Third-placed Bristol know they can make up ground on at least one of the top two with a success at Oxford Eagles. 

Manchester Moss Side will be out to extend their lead over fellow unbeaten side, Leeds Gorse, at the top of Division 3 North as they take on York Falcons and Newcastle Staffs 2 in a triangular. 

Their rivals are without a match, so they can potentially stretch their advantage to nine points with two maximum points wins. 

Fresh from their National Shield success, third place team in Division 3 Central, Darkstar Derbyshire 2 (pictured top), will take on East Midlands rivals Nottingham Rockets as well as Black Country 2 and have the opportunity move up to second with a successful triangular. 

There are no matches in DIvision 3 South East, but Bedminster 2, Plymouth UTV and Weymouth play each other in Division 3 South West at Redlands Comunity Sports Hub. 

Action images by Simon Clarke

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