NVL Preview 1st and 2nd March - Playoff places up for grabs

London Giants closed the gap to league leaders Newcastle Knights last night (Wednesday, 26th February) with a 3-1 win over Richmond, bringing them within just three points of the North East team.

The two teams face off next weekend in London, but before that, four fixtures take place this weekend in Division 1.

Stockport hosts Essex Trinity on Saturday. Trinity, who started well this season, has struggled in recent weeks with three consecutive losses. They will look to regain some momentum in their final few games with back-to-back weekends against the Greater Manchester side.

Coventry and Warwick Riga kick off a busy Sunday of action as Leicester Athena Phoenix travels to Centre AT7. Both teams have had different seasons—Riga sits ninth with ten points, while Athena is pushing hard at the top of the table in third. The sides last met at the start of the season, with the Leicestershire side winning 3-1. Athena have won their last two matches by the same scoreline against Southampton and London Inter Crocs.

Richmond will look to bounce back from their midweek defeat to the Giants when relegated Southampton travel to Kingston College Arena.

Everton Belugas also take on London Inter Crocs, with both teams sitting comfortably in mid-table.

Urmston Grammar faces a busy weekend with back-to-back matches on Saturday, hosting Newcastle Staffs and Loughborough Students. Urmston is still searching for its first win of the season and will look to capitalize against ninth-placed Staffs. However, the Loughborough match will be challenging, with the university side currently third in the table.

Loughborough stay in the North with a trip to Everton Narwhals on Sunday, hoping to return to the East Midlands with six crucial points.

The Narwhals play Sheffield on Saturday, with only one point separating the two teams. Sheffield then faces second-placed Manchester Marvels Mayhem on Sunday.

MK City hosts Cambridge on Saturday, while nearby rivals Northampton face Herts at 13:30.

Herts and MK City are both at the bottom of the table, tied on seven points, and will look to put pressure on Onyx London if either secures a win this weekend. However, Cambridge, currently second in the table, will be a tough opponent.

Richmond 2, who sit at the second, can close the gap to league leaders Cambridge this weekend if Cambridge loses and they succeed against Norwich Spikers.

Division 3 West league leaders Bristol host Cardiff Falcons on Sunday, but before that, the Welsh side faces Oxford Eagles on Saturday.

Bristol needs a win to take advantage of their game in hand over Bedminster, who are close behind them in the standings.

Manchester Marvels Mystics take on second-placed Leeds Gorse 3, aiming to go level on points with Hull Thunder in Divsiion 3 North.

Hull Thunder competes in a triangular tournament on Saturday alongside York Falcons and Manchester Liberators at Fairfield High School. The Liberators hope to close the gap on Leeds Gorse 3.

Cambridge Rhinos take on Lincoln Cannons and Nottingham Rockets on Sunday, with the Cannons looking to go level on points with Darkstar Derbyshire 2.

Southampton 2 faces City of Bristol on Sunday, with a chance to draw level with Reading Aces, who are not in action this weekend. The last time these teams met in October, Southampton secured a dominant 3-0 win.

Portsmouth hosts Weymouth and Bristol 2 on the South Coast. Bristol sits just one win above Portsmouth, making this a likely close match. Weymouth, currently ninth in the league, could jump to seventh with two wins this weekend.

With Leeds Gorse claiming the title last weekend, the playoff spots are now the main focus for Bristol, London Aces, and Black Country.

Black Country heads to recently crowned champions Leeds on Saturday, looking to avenge their 3-1 defeat from earlier in the season. They are currently fourth but have five games remaining, meaning 15 points are still available—giving them a strong chance to secure a playoff spot after narrowly missing out last year.

Bristol hosts local rivals Exeter Storm on Sunday and could extend their second-place lead if Black Country fails to beat Leeds. Bristol has played 15 games and sits on 31 points, just one ahead of Black Country. The last time these teams met, Bristol secured a 3-1 victory and are coming off two wins against Tamworth Spartans.

Newcastle Staffs need to push hard this weekend against the Spartans to keep their Super League promotion hopes alive. They are six points behind Bristol, but with a game in hand, they could put pressure on the South West side.

London Baks are in real danger of relegation, but with the bottom five teams separated by only three points, every game will be crucial in the run-up to the season’s end. Baks host fellow relegation rivals Lincoln Cannons, who sit on 15 points compared to Baks’ 12.

Black Country plays again on Sunday when Hull Thunder hosts them, looking to improve on their 3-0 victory in their last meeting.

Five matches take place this weekend in Division 2 North, with Wigan Seahawks featuring in two of them.

First, they travel to Derby to face Darkstar before heading to Boston to take on Kings of Court on Sunday. The Seahawks need results, as Kings of Court sit just two points ahead. Two wins could imroves Wigan’s chance for a place in Division 2 for another season.

Sheffield face promotion rivals Manchester Marvels on Sunday, with both teams aiming for Division 1. Sheffield, four points behind Manchester, could close the gap to one point while maintaining a game in hand.

Leeds Gorse 2 hosts Harrogate in another crucial match for the team fighting relegation.

MK City welcomes Newmarket, who are tied on points with Loughborough Students in fourth place. MK City, currently on 11 points, hopes this weekend will help them retain their spot in the NVL’s third tier.

Coventry and Warwick Riga host Loughborough Students in a match that will be replayed in the National Shield in a few weeks. Loughborough aiming to reach the finals for the first time since 2011.

Loughborough then hosts Norwich Spikers on Sunday, knowing that a perfect weekend could see them go level on points with Cambridge Rhinos, who currently lead Division 2 Central. The Rhinos aren’t in action until next weekend, making Loughborough the only team able to claim the top spot this weekend.

Four matches take place in Division 2 South, featuring teams at both ends of the table.

Richmond Bucks aim to extend their league lead, starting with Southampton’s visit to Kingston College Arena on Saturday. The Hampshire side then returns home on Sunday to face Wessex.

Cardiff Panthers, sitting at the bottom of the table, take on Hounslow, who are coming off a 3-1 loss to Bucks. However, Hounslow will be confident, having won their last encounter with the Panthers.

Wessex also faces Spelthorne Lions on Saturday to kick off the action in Division 2 South.

Division 3 North Central features just one triangular this weekend, with Tamworth Spartans 2 hosting Black Country 2 and Darkstar 2. With all three teams in the lower half of the table, it promises to be a hard-fought contest.

In Division 3 North West, Manchester Marvel Marauders host Urmston Grammar and Everton Dugongs, looking to climb out of the bottom three.

Division 3 South West sees Oxford Bulls hosting Southampton 2 and Nuneaton Inferno on Sunday. Inferno is searching for their first win of the season, while the Bulls push for Division 2 competition next year.

 

Photo by London Giants

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