Cup Finals day one review - Captain Kern inspires Rebels to maiden Men's Cup Final win in dramatic style

Alex Porter’s side looked in deep trouble as the Londoners powered into a two-set lead in front of an enthralled crowd at the National Volleyball Centre in Kettering. 

But Canadian captain and outside Kern first helped dragged his side back level at 2-2 – on the way to 28 match points (26 kills) – and then won five of the last six points for his team as they edged home by two points in the tie breaker (21-25, 22-25, 25-16, 25-16, 18-16).  

For Malory, it was another case of so near yet so far as they lost out in the final for the second consecutive year, having been beaten 3-2 by Durham Palatinates in last year’s showcase. 

For Essex, it brings a silver lining to a brilliant season where they finished top of the regular season DYNAMIK Men’s Super League and finishing as runners-up at Super League Final 4. 

“It was kind of similar to a couple of weeks ago at Final 4 with the slow start but we found a way to get back into it and then close it out and get the win.” said Kern. 

“We knew what we needed to do in the fifth. We definitely learned a lot from Final 4 where it also went to the fifth. Having that experience helped us this time. 

“This is the last game for a lot of our squad so it was good to go out with the win in the way we did.” 

Leeds Gorse were the first champions of the weekend after cruising to victory against Malory Eagles in the morning Girls’ U16 final. 

The West Yorkshire side, coached by Elaine Brown, took control in the first set and never relinquished it, closing out a 25-21, 25-14, 25-21 success. 

With nine aces and only one service error, plus 11 kills, Charlotta Macinska was MVP for Gorse. 

At the same time, Help for Heroes took on Sitting Bucks in a pulsating sitting final that, at least in the early stages, saw the Bucks recent dominance threatened. 

They dropped the first set as the Heroes came out all guns blazing before Stephen Smith’s side, crucially levelled at 1-1. 

The third set was always going to be pivotal and, though HRH initially led, Bucks bounced back and took command to win it and then closed out the match in clinical fashion for a 13-25, 25-13, 25-15, 25-21 triumph. 

MVP for the winners was John Munro. 

Both Coventry and Warwick Riga and Wessex went into their Men’s Shield Final match having secured promotions from their respective Division 2 areas. 

But it was the South Coast team who gradually wore down their opponents to prevail by a 25-18, 25-16, 25-23 margin. 

With 15 kills and 18 points, Wessex’s Marcos Perez Martin was named MVP. 

U16 Boys’ finalists had previous in Kettering in that Urmston Grammar and Richmond had contested the U15 final a year earlier. 

Both were back to go for glory again – with the same result – as the Greater Manchester side held the edge in securing a 25-19, 25-23, 25-18 triumph, much to the delight of their travelling supporters. 

Kairon Tait-Millward was selected for the MVP award after eight kills, two aces and one block. 

There was local pride at stake in the Women’s Shield Final, where city rivals Bristol and Bedminster had battle through to compete for glory. 

Both sides had earned promotion from Division 2 South West, but it was the league champions Bristol who had the edge, running out 25-21, 25-14, 25-21 victors. 

The chosen MVP was libero Silvia Bertie. 

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You can watch all the matches back on the Volleyball England YouTube Channel and find more content on social media, following #CupFinals25.