NVL review (29th and 30th November) -  Marvels and BC keep pressure on Staffs at top

Men’s NVL 

Manchester Marvels and Black Country took closer order to Newcastle Staffs at the top of Division 1 South, moving to within a point and two points respectively of the leaders, albeit having played two games more. 

Marvels, in second, did not have it all their own way at home to Sheffield as they dropped the first set before bouncing back to win the next three.

 BC, in third, meanwhile, faced a West Midlands derby against Tamworth Spartans, where they also triumphed in four (25-19, 25-21, 24-26, 25-18).  

It was also a good week for Rhinos Cambridge, who notched their fourth win in seven matches by overcoming bottom side Stockport in four sets (25-19, 25-21, 19-25, 25-16), moving up to fourth in the process. 

There were no games in Division 1 South, but, in Division 2 South, Richmond Bucks went three points clear at the top with a 3-1 away success at Reading Aces. 

In closing out a 25-21, 25-22, 19-25, 25-14 success, they made it six from six at the start of the season. 

While still second, Dartford Crossers lost further ground as they were beaten in a see-saw five-set thriller at Spelthorne Lions where three of the sets were won by just two points, including the extended decider (20-25, 29-27, 28-26, 13-25, 20-18). 

London Baks improved their standing with a straight sets win over bottom club Cardiff Panthers (25-12, 25-22, 25-17). 

In Division 2 Central, Loughborough Students surrendered their unbeaten record and leadership of the division, as they lost a four setter at home to third-placed Newmarket (25-19, 25-15, 17-25, 25-19). 

Their place at the summit has been taken by MK City, who were 3-0 winners in East Anglia against Norwich Spikers (25-22, 25-19, 25-22). 

The top three all have the same 4-1 record, but different point tallies due to five-set matches played. 

The other fixture in the division saw Northampton get the better of East Midlands rivals Leicester at Moulton College (25-18, 25-27, 25-23, 25-23) after some closely-contested sets. 

Darkstar Derbyshire won their Trent derby with East Midlands rivals Nottingham Rockets to pass their latest test in the Division 2 North promotion race. 

The hosts were 25-15, 26-24, 26-24 victors at the University of Derby Sports Centre to remain unbeaten at the top. 

Just a point further behind are Everton Dugongs, who secured their own straight sets success, on the road at Hull Thunder (25-20, 25-18, 25-22). 

Leeds Gorse 2 are third after they dealt with Sheffield Springers in confident fashion (25-20, 25-14, 25-18), while Lincoln Cannons are level on points with the Yorkshire club as they won in three at Newcastle Staffs 2 (25-19, 25-22, 25-15). 

All three teams won a match each by the same scoreline – 3-1 – when Liverpool, Manchester Moss Side Jaguars and Urmston Grammar met in a Division 3 North triangular at Holly Lodge Girls’ College. 

It leaves the first two of those three sides second and third in the table, but both have lost further ground on unbeaten league leaders Intervolley Manchester, who now have two games in hand. 

Telford maintained their 100% win record in Division 3 Central, but may still be disappointed with their weekend’s work after dropping points in both their matches, against Nuneaton Inferno and Tamworth Spartans 2. 

In both games they trailed 2-1 in sets before fighting back to triumph – and go top of the pile ahead of Birmingham City by a single point. Spartans 2 were victors in the third match in straight sets. 

London Lionhearts are the table toppers in Division 3 South East and have a six-point lead after prevailing in straight sets against Tendring and London Wildcats to move to a 7-1 record. 

Wildcats are third after beating Tendring 3-1 in the other match with Newmarket 2 in second and with two games in hand. 

In Division 3 South East, Urbond Portsmouth climbed to fourth after double victory in their triangular with City of Bristol (3-0) and Southampton (3-0), with the latter claiming their third triangular match in straight sets. 

Women’s NVL 

Teams continue to jostle for position behind leaders London Giants in Division 1 South, with Bristol up to second after victory at Team South Wales in four sets. 

All three sets they won were extremely hard-fought (25-23, 27-25, 15-25, 25-22), but it was enough to put them two points clear of Essex Trinity in third, though Richmond remain well placed, unbeaten with three games in hand. 

London Orcas played only their third match and came back from two sets down to take the decider by just two points (26-24, 21-25, 17-25, 25-17, 16-14) against Bedminster. 

There were no matches in Division 1 North this weekend, but there was plenty of action – four matches – in Division 2 North. 

Manchester Moss Side Jaguars continue to lead the way after their seventh triumph of the season – but their lead was cut by a point. 

That was after they needed to come from 2-1 down and go the distance to defeat Everton Narwhals (25-22, 23-25, 9-25, 25-16, 17-15) as second-placed Manchester Liberators eased to a straight sets success against Sheffield (25-17, 25-22, 25-12). 

Lincoln Cannons, in third, and The Miners Doncaster, in fourth, both came out on top in their encounters, defeating Newcastle Staffs (27-25, 22-25, 25-17, 25-21) and Leeds Gorse 2 (25-13, 20-25, 25-20, 25-9) on the road, respectively. 

Reading Aces have gone top of Division 2 West with their fifth consecutive success, this time seeing off Coventry and Warwick Riga 25-22, 25-23, 20-25, 25-18. 

Black Country are up to second, pushing unbeaten and inactive Oxford Eagles down to third, as they came out on top against West Midlands rivals Tamworth Spartans (23-25, 26-24, 25-14, 25-22). 

Wombourne notched their first victory of the season in what was only their third game as they edged out Southampton in a five-set thriller that could hardly have been closer (23-25, 25-23, 23-25, 25-18, 19-17). 

It was a day to forget for Worthing in Division 2 East on Saturday as they lost both their matches against Norwich Spikers (25-16, 25-19, 25-14) and Onyx (25-13, 25-12, 25-15). 

The latter’s win propelled them up to second in the table. It was only a second win of the season for the East Anglians. 

Herts made it back-to-back victories as they did it the hard way to edge out Dartford Chargers (27-25, 25-17, 23-25, 23-25, 17-15). 

MK City moved to within two points of leaders Leicester Athena Nova in Division 3 Central after enjoying the best of their triangular with Cheltenham and Gloucester (3-0) and Nottingham Rockets (3-2). 

The Reds beat the East Midlanders 3-1 in the other match, but the Rockets could console themselves with the point gained from taking MK to five. 

Urmston Grammar had a weekend to remember as they registered successive victories over Newcastle Staffs 2 (3-2) and Everton Seadragons (3-0) to sit in a mid-table position. 

There were no matches in Division 3 South East or South West this weekend. 

Action images by Simon Clarke

Full NVL results can be found here.

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