National Cup and Shield semi-finals review (22nd and 23rd March) - Malory secure finals double

The men first clinched their place at the end-of-season showpiece occasion on 26th and 27th April (buy tickets here) by travelling to and beating Stockport in straight sets. 

The Londoners finished second in the DYNAMIK Men’s Super League regular season and carried that form into the match against their already-relegated opponents, running out comfortable 25-17, 25-19, 25-11 winners. 

Their opponents will be the only team who finished above them in the league table – Essex Rebels – who secured their own straight sets victory against in-form London Giants. 

The first two sets were incredibly tight, but the hosts held their nerve two win each of them, allowing them to close out the third and secure their final berth (26-24, 26-24, 25-20). 

Inspired by their men’s exploits, the Eagles women were determined to double up on the Sunday and did just that in overcoming Darkstar Derbyshire in Derby. 

They were made to fight all the way in their first set before eventually edging it but then showed the power that has helped them top the MAAREE Women’s Super League regular season table to win the second with ease. 

The East Midlanders were back on it for the first set and looked well placed at one point to pull a set back, but Malory turned up the heat in the closing stages of it to round off a 28-26, 25-9, 25-21 success. 

Just like the men, the top two teams in the top-flight table will contest the women’s final after Team Sideout Polonia saw off the challenge of visiting Leeds Gorse. 

The defending champions did not have it all their way however, as the West Yorkshire visitors nicked a tight first set 26-24 to set up the makings of a potential shock. 

But like all the very best sides, the hosts fought back and were able to turn things around, reeling off the next three sets to win 24-26, 25-18, 25-16, 25-13. 

Matches in the men’s National Shield were, without doubt, the closest of the semi-finals weekend, not least at the All Saints Sports Centre in South Yorkshire where a thrilling five setter unfolded. 

Home side Sheffield, from Division 2 North, looked in full control as they wrapped up the first two sets by comfortable margins. 

But opponents Wessex, already crowned champions of Division 2 South had other ideas and after levelling the match at 2-2, won the decisive final set by just two points in a 17-25, 14-25, 25-19, 25-14, 15-13 to complete a reverse sweep.

While not so tight in terms of set scores, the match between Loughborough Students and visiting fellow Division 2 Central Coventry and Warwick Riga was just as keenly-fought. 

Crucially, the West Midlanders were able to edge the first two sets by just two points, meaning that gave them the breathing space to drop the third set before closing out the game out in the fourth (25-23, 26-24, 16-25, 25-13), ending a long, double-figure unbeaten run from the students. 

The Women’s National Shield final will be a Bristol derby between fellow Division 2 West sides Bristol and Bedminster. 

Bristol ran out 3-1 winners at Northampton and, after winning the first two sets in impressive fashion looked on course to go through in straight sets. 

But the hosts put together a brave fightback to clinch the third, only for the West Country side to regain their composure and win the fourth for an overall 25-17, 25-17, 19-25, 25-17 triumph. 

It was another day of disappointment for Loughborough Students, who, like their men, fell at the final hurdle in a bid to play at the National Volleyball Centre. 

Bedminster are going well in Division 2 South and still in outside contention for promotion and proved too strong for the Division 2 North East Midlanders, notching a 25-21, 27-25, 25-19 success.

Images by Matt Halfpenny

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