Super League and NVL review (15th and 16th February) - Darkstar's hope, Knights' joy, Gorse close, Wombourne delight

Both sides are in danger of finishing in the bottom three, meaning automatic relegation, or in seventh, which means a play-off against the side who claim second place in NVL Division 1 (currently London Giants). 

But it was Maria Bertelli’s side who maintained their recent improved form, albeit by doing it the hard way and going the distance. 

Twice ARU led at 1-0 and 2-1, but, on each occasion, the East Midlanders, refused to buckle and after forcing a decider, held their nerve to clinch it by just two points (16-25, 25-20, 11-25, 25-13, 15-13. 

Hajar El Alouani was chosen as MVP for Darkstar and Krystalynn Leomiti for Cambridge. 

While Darkstar remain four points behind their beaten rivals, they have a game in hand and could move to within a point this weekend if they beat bottom club Wessex in convincing fashion and Cambridge lose to high-flying Malory Eagles. 

It bodes for an exciting end to the season as both have sides in and around the drop zone still to play, meaning either could even still finish above sixth-placed Durham Palatinates and avoid the drop completely, face a play-off or go down. 

At the other end of the table, Lionhearts Vinarius edged close to clinching a Final 4 spot with their 10th victory of the season, this time at Wessex. 

The Londoners took control from the outset on the South Coast and were never in trouble in wrapping up a 25-16, 25-19, 25-8 triumph. 

Kersti Sorra was the pick of the Lionhearts players to be selected as MVP, while Vicky Palmer got the nod for Wessex. 

For Lionhearts, two wins from three will definitely see them play-off for end-of-season glory, while one win may yet be enough. 

In the Men’s Super League, one match took place on Thursday might and it was an important North East derby in the race for the Final 4. 

Newcastle Knights beat rivals Durham Palatinates in straight sets in a match that got easier for them as it went on (26-24, 25-19, 25-15). 

Matt Milne was named MVP for the victors, while Owen Wienczkowski took the honours for the visitors. 

The Knights moved back into the top four as a result, one place and one point above the University of Nottingham, and their fate in terms of clinching a Final 4 place is now firmly in their own hands. 

While the Palatinates are not yet completely out of it, their chances now look slim with three other contenders ahead of them in the race and games running out. 

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Leeds Gorse now need just one more full-points win to guarantee the Men's NVL Division 1 title as their task got a little bit easier without even playing. 

Nearest chasers in the bid for top spot, second placed Black Country, were beaten in straight sets by West Midlands rivals Newcastle Staffs on Saturday (25-15, 25-23, 25-20). 

It leaves Gorse 16 points clear on 45 points, with BC now only able to get up to 47 points if they were to win all six of their remaining matches. 

As a result, Leeds’ status as champions, and place back in the Super League, could be confirmed as soon as this Saturday should they overcome Cambridge ARU in a maximum point success. 

For Staffs, it produced to be a frustrating weekend as they joy at beating a high-flyer changed to disappointment on Sunday as they own play-off hopes were hit by defeat at Tamworth Spartans. 

So tight is the table, that the hosts’ straight sets success (25-20, 25-18, 18-25, 25-19) has propelled them up to ninth as the race to avoid the drop really hots up. 

In Division 2 North, Wigan Seahawks leapfrogged above Kings of Court and moved into third place after coming from a set down to prevail (20-25, 25-17, 25-20, 25-16). 

Sheffield, in second, still remain eight points clear, however, and remain strong favourites for promotion. 

The other match saw Leeds Gorse 2 carry their record to 4-4 with a four-set success over bottom club Harrogate (25-19, 26-24, 24-26, 25-18). 

There were no matches in Division 2 Central, but in Division 2 South, Hounslow created a further buffer between themselves and those at the bottom after reverse sweeping Wiltshire Mavericks (20-25, 16-25, 25-21, 25-18, 15-13). 

No matches were played across the regional areas or Division 3. 

London Giants kept their pressure up on leaders Newcastle Knights by cutting their lead to nine points with two games in hand after weekend victory at Stockport. 

The hosts temporarily sent shockwaves through the Londoners by taking the first set, but the response was emphatic as they reeled off the next three to seal a 10th victory in 11 league games. 

Southampton’s position in Division 1 is hanging by the faintest of threads after their latest defeat – this time to London Inter Crocs, who have used the last few weeks to pull away from danger. 

The 25-18, 25-14, 25-22 scorelines means one more defeat, or a win for any of their relegation rivals, means they will be consigned to the drop. 

Just one match was contested in Division 2 East where it was a good day for Onyx as they moved to within three points of opponents Norwich Spikers with a 3-0 triumph on the road (25-21, 25-21, 25-17). 

While there was no match in Division 3 North, there were matches in the other three regions. 

The most meaningful of them was in the West Midlands where Wombourne became the first team across all divisions of the NVL to clinch the league title, winning Division 3 Central, in making it 14 wins from 14 matches so far. 

The latest teams to suffer at their hands were Black Country 2 and Leicester Athena Nova, both in straight sets, while the latter beat the former 3-1 in the other triangular fixture. 

Tendring gave their hopes of securing a play-off spot in Division 3 South East a boost as they secured double victory over Invicta and Dartford Warriors (both by 3-1 margins). 

The other clash saw Invicta twice bounce back from a set down to secure a five-set thriller, winning 15-7 in the last. 

They are now four points clear of third-placed Worthing, having played two games more, with Sussex Dolphins still leading the way and looking likely divisional winners. 

A solitary game in Division 3 South West saw Bristol 2 keep themselves in the hunt for a play-off berth with a straightforward win over Plymouth UTV (25-13, 25-10, 25-15). 

Action image by Noelia Fernandez Perez

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