NVL preview (29th and 30th March) - remaining ups and downs to be decided across busy final weekend

That’s not least in Men’s Division 1, where who will take on Richmond Docklands in a play-off in Cambridge on Saturday 12th April to decide who will play in Super League next season is still up in the air. 

Black Country start the weekend knowing that if they can secure two maximum-points wins over London Baks (Saturday) and Newcastle Staffs (Sunday), then their superior set quotient will see them clinch that much sought-after second spot. 

However, should they fail in that goal, then Bristol can take the runners-up berth with their own maximum-points victory over Staffs on Saturday. 

It promises to be an exciting to conclusion to an intense battle, with a final outcome difficult to predict, especially as the Baks are fighting for points themselves in order to stay in the division.

Like BC, they, too, have two fixtures to go and will be aware that two convincing wins – there other Sunday game is at Tamworth Spartans – will see them safe. 

The same carrot is in front of Spartans – a maximum points victory would also ensure they play Division 1 volleyball next season. 

It is less clear cut for Lincoln Cannons, who will hope to triumph at London Aces and then hope other results go their way. 

Cambridge, who are safe because of their superior set quotient and the fact that teams playing each other cannot all win, entertain Exeter Storm. 

Champions Leeds Gorse have already topped 50 points for the season but can still add to their total as they conclude against already-relegated Hull Thunder. 

Saturday will decide who finishes second and is promoted from Division 2 South, joining champions Wessex, as the South Coast team conclude with a trip to Spelthorne Lions. 

Southampton have the slight edge at the moment and can seal the deal by taking three points at home to Wiltshire Mavericks. 

If they stumble, then Richmond Bucks will look to capitalise as they journey to bottom club Cardiff Panthers, who need a maximum points win to avoid the drop. 

Three games round off the Division 2 Central season, where second place is still on the table. 

Loughborough Students can guarantee that position with a maximum points success at Northampton, but Coventry and Warwick Riga could still sneak in if there are any slip-ups as the West Midlanders welcome MK City. 

Mid-table sides Norwich Spikers and Newmarket meet knowing the victor is likely to finish in fourth spot. 

Victory for Manchester Marvels at Kings of Court on Sunday will see them crown Division 2 North champions. 

Waiting in the wings if they fail to do so are Sheffield, who have to beat Darkstar Derbyshire (Saturday) and Wigan Seahawks (on Sunday) to stand any chance of usurping their cross-Pennines rivals. 

Leicester and Chester meet in a triangular on Saturday with second place at stake, as GNG Bedford provide the other opposition. 

Sunday sees champions Nottingham Rockets look to secure a seasonal 100% record as they welcome Wombourne and Wombourne 2 to the Harvey Hadden Complex. 

Tomorrow night (Friday) pairs Everton Dugongs and Liverpool together in an important derby fixture at the top end of Division 3 North West. Liverpool need victory to have an outside hope of finishing in the top two. 

Everton, meanwhile, also play a triangular on Sunday – against Intervolley Manchester and York Vikings – and know that if they can take maximum points in all three then they would nick the title from long-time leaders Sheffield Springers. 

The South Yorkshire club round off with a triangular against city rivals Sheffield 2 and Manchester Marvels Marauders and will be bidding to take maximum points to pressurise Everton. 

Two triangular fixtures complete Division 3 South East for the season, with champions Invicta taking on London Wildcats and Worthing, while third-placed Onyx face Guildford International and Tendring. 

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Unlike their male counterparts, promotion, play-off and relegation positions have already been decided in Women’s Division 1 and it is simply a case of completing the season. 

Champions Newcastle Knights have something of an incentive to win their last game at relegated Coventry and Warwick Riga as not only would it enable them to reach 50 points, but it would also ensure they win the title by having more points, rather than by virtue of a superior set quotient. 

London Giants, who are one place below them, will be looking to round off their campaign on a high as they visit bottom club Southampton. 

The promotion contenders will be bidding to carry their momentum into a 12th April play-off match with the seventh-placed MAAREE Women’s Super League team, Darkstar Derbyshire, as a Super League place for 2025-26 will be at stake. 

Both Everton Belugas and Essex Trinity finish their schedules with weekend double headers and designs on finishing third. 

That could well be decided when the two sides meet at St John Payne School on Sunday, with the Liverpudlians first visiting Richmond on Saturday as Trinity visit Leicester Athena Phoenix. 

Should the East Midlanders lose, then Stockport could go above them into a final placing of fifth, should they prevail at home to London Inter Crocs. 

It’s crunch time for Bristol and Bedminster – the two sides who will meet each other in the National Shield Final in April – in Division 2 West. 

If the former beat strugglers Black Country on Saturday, then their superior set quotient means they will clinch second spot, regardless of how the latter fares at home to championship hopefuls Team South Wales on Sunday. 

If not, depending on the outcome in Wales, they may have a second bite of the cherry when they hosts Oxford Eagles in their own final game. 

It’s also a big weekend at the opposite end of the table, where Cardiff Falcons will nervously be watching the results come in having completed their season. 

They are currently second from bottom, but they can be overhauled by Cheltenham and Gloucester should the West Country side secure a maximum-points victory over BC on Sunday. 

Division 2 East sees six teams in action, including MK City, who will stay up ahead of Herts on set quotient should they avoid a 3-0 defeat against high-flying Richmond 2. 

Champions Cambridge round off their campaign by hosting Onyx, while third-placed Northampton conclude on Sunday at home to Norwich Spikers.

No changes in league position are possible in Division 2 North, where champions Manchester Marvels Mayhem visit second-placed Loughborough Students as Newcastle Staffs host relegated and winless Urmston Grammar. 

All nine teams will be in action across three triangulars in Division 3 North to round off the campaign. 

Champions Manchester Moss Side Jaguars can make it a perfect 16 wins from 16 if they can get the better of fourth-placed Leeds Gorse 2 and second-placed Manchester Liberators, with the latter leading one more point to secure that final table position. 

Elsewhere, third-placed Leeds Gorse 3 host Hull Thunder and Newcastle Staffs 2, while Manchester Marvels Mystics, York Falcons and Chester Amazons all meet. 

Another side looking to go unbeaten through the entire season is Division 3 Central winners Wombourne and they will achieve that feat if they can get the better of Ashfield Vipers and Rhinos Volleyball Cambridge. 

A full set of fixtures involving every team will bring down the curtain on Division 3 South East this weekend, with title winners Sussex Dolphins finishing against Ashcombe Dorking and Dartford Warriors on Sunday. 

Before that, on Saturday, the scrap for second placed will be decided as Worthing and Tendring, both on 29 points will go to head to head and Essex Ravens will provide the other opposition. 

Also in action at the Kingston College Arena are Richmond 3, who host Invicta and Spelthone Sharks. 

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