National Cup and Shield review (1st and 2nd November) - Giants account for 2024 winners Palatinates

Men’s Cup  

The much-anticipated clash between last year’s DYNAMIK Super League winners London Giants and the 2023-24 league and National Cup double winners Durham Palatinates was tipped to be a close-run thing. 

As it was, the visitors were always in control and cruised to a 25-17, 25-17, 25-18 success to book their progression. 

There were no issues for the other Super League teams drawn to play at this stage, with Richmond Docklands securing a 3-0 triumph on the road at Tamworth Spartans (25-13, 25-14, 25-19). 

Leeds Gorse were also straight sets winners on the road at BUCS Premier side Loughborough Students (25-20, 25-21, 25-12), while Essex Rebels went through as NVL Division 1 North Manchester Marvels pulled out of their tie. 

Elsewhere, Division 1 South's London Aces beat an England U20 side in three sets (25-22, 25-15, 25-16) as Michael Wilshere was MVP for the hosts and James Cox for the Young Lions. 

Another student side, the University of Bristol were beaten on their home court by Division 1 South’s Essex Blaze (25-21, 25-17, 31-29).

London League representatives London Lionhearts had too much for Division 1 South Cambridge as they eased to a 25-17, 25-18, 25-19 triumph at the Mulberry Shoreditch Academy. 

There were two all-Division 1 North ties which saw Coventry and Warwick Riga overcome Sheffield (25-21, 25-20, 22-25, 25-20) and Black Country get the better of Stockport (25-29, 25-21, 25-22).

 Malory Eagles UEL, Newcastle Staffs, Wessex, London Giants 2, Onyx London, IBB Polonia and Bristol are also in the last 16 after receiving byes. 

 

Women’s Cup 

Just two MAAREE Women’s Super League sides were involved in Last 32 ties – and both made comfortable progress. 

Durham Palatinates were emphatic winners in their tie with NVL Division 1 North’s Loughborough Students, cantering to a 25-14, 25-14, 25-4 success at the Graham Sports Centre. 

Darkstar Derbyshire were tested at Division 1 North newcomers Manchester Marvels Mayhem, but eventually came through 25-21, 25-23, 23-25, 25-16. 

In only their second competitive outing of the season, Division 1 South's London Giants underlined their credentials to be challenging for promotion as they swept aside another team from their division this season, Bristol, by a 25-12, 25-20, 25-9 scoreline. 

Northampton registered their first win of the season after three league losses in Division 1 North as they beat an England U20 team in straight sets (25-14, 25-18, 25-22). 

The all-Division 1 South tie between Richmond and Essex Trinity saw the hosts continue their solid start to the season with a 3-1 success where they bounced back after dropping the first set (22-25, 25-19, 25-13, 26-24). 

Another match between two Division 1 sides paired Bedminster (South) with Cambridge (North) and produced a five-set thriller. 

The former Super League side stormed into a two-set lead, but Bemi won the crucial third, allowing them to pull off a reverse sweep (27-29, 22-25, 25-20, 25-21, 25-12). 

Already through were Lionhearts Vinarius, Malory Eagles UEL, Waterloo Thunder, Team South Wales, Essex Rebels, Stockport, Onyx London, London Bears, Everton Belugas and Team SideOut Polonia, who were all handed byes. 

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Men’s Shield 

Teams were divided into four sections – North, Central, South East and South West for the 16 Last 32 ties. 

In the North section, non-NVL team Legends lived up to their tag as being one of the competition favourites when they clinically dispatched Division 3 North Hull Thunder 2 25-8, 25-10, 25-11. 

Hull Thunder’s first team also fell at the same hurdle as they beaten in five at fellow Division 2 North side Everton Dugongs (23-25, 28-26, 25-21, 22-25, 15-12) in an evenly-contested match throughout. 

Manchester Moss Side Jaguars, who have started well in Division 3 North put out the Frodsham Flames thanks to a straight sets win over the non-NVL team (25-29, 25-16, 25-18). 

Liverpool won the battle of the Division 3 North rivals as they recorded a 25-23, 25-19, 19-25, 25-18 success over Manchester Liberators. 

In the Central section, non-NVL side Newcastle Panthers had home advantage but could not make it count against Division 2 North’s Darkstar Derbyshire, as the visitors won 25-22, 25-12, 25-18 at Sports Central. 

Another non-NVL side, BDS Gurdwara Birmingham, also exited the competition as they came unstuck against Division 2 North Lincoln Cannons, despite taking the first set (22-25, 25-22, 26-24, 25-13). 

Nottingham Rockets have lost both their Division 2 North league fixtures so far but were too strong for Northampton, prevailing 25-18, 25-20, 25-20 against the Division 2 Central team. 

The Rockets’ divisional rivals, Leeds Gorse 2, are also in the hat for the next round after getting the better of Division 2 Central’s Leicester 25-22, 25-10, 25-19. 

Two non-NVL sides met in the South East section and it was Deep Dish Crystal Palace who went through, beating Red Eagles Luton in four (25-21 24-26, 25-20, 26-24). 

Another capital side, non-NVL club Brazukas, notched an impressive win over early-season Division 3 South East strugglers Worthing, coming through by a 25-20, 25-15, 25-12 margin. 

A third side from outside the NVL will join those two after Watford clipped the wings of Division 2 Central’s Cambridge 2 as they triumphed in four (25-13, 22-25, 25-21, 25-18). 

Early leaders of Division 3 South East, Newmarket 2, continued their fine early season form as they defeated GNG Bedford from the same division in a match where three of the four sets were claimed by just two points (29-27, 25-23, 18-25, 25-23). 

The match-up of the two Spelthornes in the South West section – Lions (Division 2 South) and Tigers (Division 3 South West) – went the way of the first team, but only just (21-25, 25-15, 25-17, 22-25, 15-6). 

Oxford Bulls (Division 3 Central) got the better of Division 2 South Reading Aces 3-1, while Weymouth backed up their bright start in Division 3 South West by defeating the team unbeaten at the top of their table, Bristol 2, in straight sets (25-22, 26-24, 25-17). 

Non-NVL team The Army once again showed their prowess as they this time accounted for Division 3 South West’s Guildford International (25-16, 25-21, 25-9). 

 

Women’s Shield 

Farnborough Phoenix completed their fine start to the season with another victory in the South West section of the Women’s Shield. 

They got the better of Division 3 South West rivals Bedminster 2 and have yet to drop a set in their five competitive matches this season (25-17, 25-19, 25-18).  

The same can be said of Oxford Eagles, who also remain unbeaten after a 25-21, 25-14, 25-22 victory at Division 3 South West Portsmouth. 

Student side The University of Bristol continued their run by accounting for Division 3 South West side Weymouth at a canter (25-13, 25-9, 25-12), while Division 2 West’s Reading Aces, playing their first game after they are yet to get their league campaign underway, overcame Ashcombe Dorking 25-15, 18-25, 25-22, 25-14. 

Division 3 South East’s Essex Ravens secured their first of what would be three wins in the weekend (the others in triangular league action) as they overcame Deep Dish Crystal Palace in straight sets in the South East section. 

Also victorious were Division 2 East leaders Cambridge 2, who went the full distance to edge out Sussex Dolphins by two points in a lung-buster at The Triangle (23-25, 25-21, 17-25, 25-17, 17-15.  

Both MK City and MK City 2 bit the dust, with the former going down 25-14, 26-24, 25-23 to Division 2 East’s Dartford Chargers and the latter suffering a 3-0 reverse at the hands of Division 3 Central’s Rhinos Cambridge (25-6, 25-18, 25-16). 

Things went to the form book in the Central section, with all the higher division sides going through. 

Division 2 West’s Wombourne were too strong for Division 3 Central’s Nottingham Rockets (25-22, 25-11, 25-23), while Division 2 North’s Lincoln Cannons gunned down Division 3 Central’s Loughborough Students 2 (25-19, 25-19, 25-10). 

Division 2 West’s Tamworth Spartans had too much for Division 3 Central’s Leicester Athena Nova (25-21, 25-12, 25-23) and Division 2 West’s Coventry and Warwick Riga got the job done against Division 3 Central’s Ashfield Vipers (25-14, 25-12, 25, 25-18). 

Division 3 North leaders Manchester Marvels Mystics upset their city rivals and Division 2 North side Manchester Moss Side Jaguars to record a four-set triumph (25-21, 22-25, 25-15, 25-22). 

South Yorkshire and Division 2 North teams The Miners Doncaster and Sheffield met on Saturday and it was the city club who battled back from a set down to eventually go through (20-25, 25-19, 25-23, 25-22). 

An engrossing encounter took place on Merseyside, where Everton Narwhals won a five set-thriller in extra points to complete a reverse sweep against Manchester Liberators. 

After being outplayed in the first two sets, they eventually triumphed 16-25, 8-25, 26-24, 25-15, 18-16 against their Division 2 North rivals. 

Action images by Evelyn Lee (@_evelyn.pov) and Simon Clarke (@simondclarke.1)

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