Sitting Cup and Shield review

Lincoln Imps, meanwhile, put in a resilient performance to secure the Shield title after an impressive campaign that saw them drop just one match.

With six teams battling for the prestigious Ken Edwards Trophy, the competition promised high-intensity matches from start to finish. 

Teams were split into two pools played in a round-robin format, drawn on the day before the action got underway.

Pool A featured Sitting Grand Prix table-toppers and National Cup finalists Sitting Bucks, alongside the Imps and Panthers. Pool B brought together the other National Cup finalists Help for Heroes A, Nottingham and South Hants.

The South Coast club began their campaign against Nottingham in what proved to be a tightly-contested opening match. 

Nottingham started strongly, taking the first set 25-20. However, Hants quickly responded, showing resilience to claim the second set before securing victory in the decisive third.

With a 2-1 win, South Hants had set the tone for the rest of their tournament.

Their second match saw them take on Help for Heroes A, where they delivered a dominant performance, controlling the game from start to finish, and securing a straight-sets victory.

This result not only confirmed their place at the top of Pool B but also guaranteed their spot in the afternoon’s Cup semi-finals.

In Pool A, Lincoln Imps started their campaign with a dominant 25-16, 25-17 victory over Panthers, setting the stage for their next challenge.

Building on their early success, they looked to carry their form into a much-anticipated clash with Sitting Bucks, the Sitting Grand Prix table-toppers.

The Imps started with intensity, taking the first set, but Sitting Bucks fought back, leveling the score by winning the second set, despite having limited squad availability. 

In a tense and hard-fought third set, the Imps remained composed under pressure, clinching the match 2-1 (25-18, 13-25, 15-13) and securing their place in the Cup semi-finals.

The first semi-final saw Lincoln Imps take on Help for Heroes A, the runners-up from Pool B. With two wins under their belt in the pool stages, the Imps were eager to secure a third victory and advance to the Cup final.

However, Help 4 Heroes A proved to be a formidable opponent from the outset, claiming a narrow 25-22 victory in the first set.

Despite that setback, Lincoln Imps responded with determination, winning the second set 25-20, taking it to a decider.

There, it was Help for Heroes A who ultimately triumphed, securing their place in the Cup final.

Though disappointed, Lincoln shifted their focus to the Shield playoffs where they faced Panthers, who had finished third in Pool A. 

They put in a commanding display, winning in straight sets, which earned them a well-deserved place in the Shield final, where they would continue their pursuit for silverware.

The second semi-final featured South Hants, who faced Pool A runners-up, Sitting Bucks, in what proved to be an intense showdown. 

The match lived up to expectations, going the distance to a deciding third set. South Hants started well, taking the first set, but Sitting Bucks quickly responded, leveling the score by winning the second set.

In the final set, it was South Hants who held their nerve, emerging victorious and advancing to the Cup final, setting the stage for a thrilling conclusion to the competition.

Lincoln would face Nottingham in the Shield Final after the latter defeated Sitting Bucks 2-1 (25-18, 22-25, 15-11) in the second Shield play-off.

The match between Imps and Nottingham was an exciting one, with both teams showcasing their resilience

Imps struck the first blow to clinch the first set 25-20, and appeared to have shaken off the disappointment of their Cup defeat. 

However, Nottingham refused to back down and fought hard to take the second set 25-23, leveling the match and setting up a thrilling decider.

In the final set, Lincoln stepped up when it mattered most, edging to victory with a 15-12 scoreline to secure the Shield.

In the Cup Final, South Hants faced Help for Heroes, also facing challenges due to player availability.

Determined to replicate their pool stage result, South Hants came out with great focus and dominated the match, winning 2-0 with set scores of 25-8 and 25-19. 

Their powerful performance earned them the title of Cup winners, and they proudly accepted the Ken Edwards Trophy.

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To view all the results of the weekend, click here.