Super League review (24th and 25th January) - Palatinates women and Knights men continue charge 

MAAREE Women’s Super League 

Durham Palatinates’ relentless assault on the women’s top-flight continued as they brushed aside neighbours Newcastle Knights in three straight sets. 

Their relatively comfortable 25-20 25-15, 25-16 success at the Graham Sports Centre saw libero True McCullough-Pinci named the hosts’ MVP while Chloe Thomas made eight kills and four blocks and Elena Bullemer completed 23 assists form 66 attempts and made 15 digs. 

Caroline McMahon was MVP for the beaten visitors after completing all 21 serve receive attempts for a rating of 2.43, as well as six kills and 14 digs.

Durham backed up that success with another home victory on Saturday, this time against a more established Super League force in the shape of perennial challengers Team SideOut Polonia. 

Another straight sets outcome – 25-20, 25-13, 25-22 – saw some entertaining rallies and strong play from both sides, but the Palatinates’ success means they have now won eight out of eight and are six points clear at the top. 

MVP for Paul Welsh’s side was Chloe Thomas who completed 12 kills from 31 attempts for a hitting percentage of 0.258, as well as making three blocks and 10 digs, while Elly Shraeder made seven blocks. 

Libero Kennedy Snape took the honours for Sideout with 20 completed serve receive attempts from 21 for a rating of 2.38, five assists from 11 attempts and 12 digs.  

Londoners SideOut quickly bounced back from that disappointment in their second match of their weekend trip north as they beat bottom club Leeds Gorse in straight sets (25-19, 25-9, 25-16). 

It means they are four points clear in the last Final 4 qualifying space, with the Knights their nearest challengers. 

Setter Merve Akin was MVP for Polonia, making two kills in addition to 11 assists from 17 attempts and three digs. 

As Gorse fought hard, Elizabeth Perfection Uwagboe Akuetiehme was selected as her side’s MVP as she served one ace, completed five kills and one block and made three digs. 

Leeds had already played on Saturday when they took their first set of the campaign, but they were unable to maintain that momentum and lost in four to Lionhearts Vinarius (25-14, 20-25, 25-8, 25-22). 

For the visitors, it was an important victory to pull them away from the automatic relegation places, though they still sit in a play-off position. 

Lyubomira Atanasova was chosen as MVP for Lionhearts, while England junior Daniella Tchandeu was picked out for the home side. 

DYNAMIK Men’s Super League 

The only match of the men’s weekend came on Thursday night as Newcastle Knights made it six wins from seven by conquering Durham Palatinates (25-19, 25-18, 25-21). 

Sam Shenton’s team now sit in third place, three points behind leaders Malory Eagles and two shy of second-placed London Giants with a game in hand on both. 

Neil Rea was MVP for Newcastle when, in addition to claiming 17 assists from 56 attempts, he also make five made kills, one solo block and 11 digs. 

Former Newcastle/Team Sunderland player Noah Sykes was MVP for the Palatinates on debut. 

Images by Jon Cornish

For all the Super League results and latest, click here.