NVL Review (8th and 9th February) - Southampton shock Trinity to break duck

It has been a miserable 2024-25 for the South Coast club, but they at least had reason to smile on their visit to St John Payne School on Sunday after fighting back from 1-0 and 2-1 down to win in five. 

Just two points separated the teams in four of the five sets, including a nerve shredding tie breaker, which the Hampshire side won to record their first victory of the season (10-25, 25-23, 23-25, 26-24, 15-13). 

It was a disappointing weekend for Trinity, who had also suffered a surprise defeat on Saturday, losing 3-0 (25-7, 25-14, 25-23) at Richmond that gives the South West London team hope of staying up. 

The home victors have climbed out of the bottom two for the first time in some time and will face the run in to the end of the season with renewed confidence. 

London Inter Crocs also lifted themselves away from the drop zone – and plunged Coventry and Warwick Riga into trouble – with an important five-set home victory on Sunday. 

Their 25-13, 22-25, 21-25, 25-21, 15-12 success took away the string of losing in four at Leicester Athena Phoenix on Sunday (25-17, 25-19, 22-25, 25-22), who are now third with an 8-4 record. 

At the very top, Newcastle Knights passed another test with flying colours as they beat Everton Belugas 3-1 in Liverpool, overcoming the loss of the first set to run out 18-25, 25-20, 25-18, 25-17 winners. 

They have accrued a 12-point advantage over second-placed London Giants, having played three games more. 

Manchester Marvels may not currently be top of Division 2 North, but they look to be in a strong position to win it. 

They sit in second place and three points off the top, but have played four games less than leaders The Miners Doncaster. 

Their hand was further strengthened at the weekend as they defeated Newcastle Staffs with the minimum of fuss (25-17, 25-17, 25-18) on Saturday and then saw their South Yorkshire rivals beaten in five at Tamworth Spartans on Sunday (18-25, 25-15, 23-25, 25-22, 15-12). 

In the division’s other match, mid-table Everton Narwhals saw off Urmston Grammar (25-9, 23-25, 25-18, 25-17) whose 10th consecutive defeat means relegation is now a near-certainty. 

Richmond 2’s hopes of promotion in Division 2 East were boosted by consecutive weekend victories in contrasting circumstances. 

They dug out a five-set success at bottom-of-the table Herts on Saturday (19-25, 25-22, 23-25, 25-13, 15-6) and then were much more comfortable in a straight sets home win over MK City on Sunday (25-23, 25-8, 25-14). 

Bristol struck what could be a vital blow in their clash with Bedminster on Saturday as both sides grapple for promotion. 

A 25-14, 22-25, 25-21, 25-23 winning margin means the victors have moved level on points with their near-neighbours, but have a superior set quotient, as well as a game in hand. 

Bedminster at least kept themselves in the hunt by easing to a 25-9, 25-17, 25-11 triumph over Cardiff Falcons. 

Black Country, meanwhile, did themselves a huge favour in their quest to beat the drop as they battled to only their second victory of the season, seeing off Oxford Eagles in five (29-31, 25-19, 25-19, 22-25, 15-11). 

Manchester Liberators kept themselves in with a fighting chance of promotion from Division 3 North Central with back-to-back triangular victories at Madeley High School. 

They beat Newcastle Staffs 2 in straight sets and then Chester Amazons in five, before the latter beat the former 3-1. 

With no Division 3 Central of Division South West action, the only other triangular fixture was in Division 3 South East, where Sussex Dolphins took advantage of other teams’ inactivity to go top. 

They are top on set quotient with just one defeat in the campaign, having beaten both Richmond 3 and Tendring in their latest outings. Tendring regrouped to beat Richmond 3 in the third match and sit third in the table.

Back-to-back weekend victories for Leeds Gorse means they are now on the cusp an immediate return to the DYNAMIK Men’s Super League at the first attempt. 

Relegated at the end of last season, the West Yorkshire side continue to dominate NVL Division 1 and their 14th and 15th wins from 16 matches has seen their lead at the top extended to 16 points.

It means just two more successes from their final four matches will guarantee top-flight volleyball next season – and they may even need that if their rivals are unable to keep winning themselves. 

First, on Saturday, Leeds made the trip to a Newcastle Staffs side who have been in decent recent form and they encountered relatively few problems in prevailing by a 25-18, 25-19, 25-19 margin. 

Then, on Sunday, Gorse followed up with another triumph on the road, this time at Lincoln Cannons and though the sets got progressively closer, they still had too much for the East Midlanders in running up a 25-16, 25-21, 25-23. 

Second-placed Black Country kept their momentum going by also winning at the Cannons a day earlier getting the job done in three sets, the second two of them hard fought (25-16, 26-24, 26-24). 

A point further back are Bristol, having played a game more, who increased Tamworth Spartans’ woes at the bottom with a 3-1 victory (25-17, 19-25, 25-23, 25-21). 

But London Aces’ challenge for a play-off place is fading fast after a second consecutive home defeat, this time to Hull Thunder, whose third victory of the season gives them hope of avoiding the drop. 

The hosts won the opening set 25-15, but the Humberside responded by reeling off the next three 25-20, 25-18, 25-22. 

Manchester Marvels made it nine wins out of nine at the top of Division 2 North by beating one of their nearest rivals for promotion in the shape of Kings of Court. 

A four-set success (25-21, 25-15, 17-25, 25-21) saw them open up a seven-point lead at the summit and they remain firm favourites to finish on top. 

It was also a great weekend for Leeds Gorse 2, who eased any relegation worries with double victories, one at home, one on the road. 

First, like their first team, they were victorious in Stoke at Newcastle Staffs 2 (25-19, 25-19, 25-15) on Saturday and then, on Sunday, they dug out a five-set victory over Darkstar Derbyshire (25-19, 23-25, 25-19, 18-25, 16-14). 

There were no matches in Division 2 Central, but there was a cracking game in Division 2 South where Cardiff Panthers beat Spelthorne Lions in thrilling fashion. 

The Welsh hosts were two sets to the good, but then pegged back and, as the match went to a decider, they eventually came through 15-13 in the decider. 

GNG Bedford strengthened their promotion hopes by triumphing in both of their Division 3 North Central triangular matches, beating Black Country 2 3-1 and Wombourne 3-0. 

Wombourne then kept their own hopes of clinching a play-off hopes alive with their own straight sets win over Black Country. 

There were no matches in Division 3 North West and Division 3 South East but Weymouth secured two crucial victories in their promotion bid, including against fellow hopefuls Bristol. 

They beat their rivals 3-1 and fellow West Country side Bedminster by the same scoreline to move within striking distance of second spot, although unbeaten league leaders Oxford Bulls remain well clear at the summit.