NVL Review (31st January and 1st February) - Cambridge top but Blaze give chase in men's Division 1 promotion race

Men’s NVL 

Cambridge are five points clear at the top of Division 1 South, but Essex Blaze and IBB Polonia remain well in contention in what looks to be a three-way race for the title. 

The Eastern Counties side were 3-1 victors over Wessex when they bounced back from losing the first set to win in four for their eighth success of the league season (21-25, 25-20, 25-20, 25-23). 

But Blaze, determined to return to the DYNAMIK Super League at the first attempt, are still within striking distance and have three games in hand. 

They also beat Wessex at the weekend in a straight sets win which got progressively more comfortable, 25-23, 25-21, 25-17.  

A point further back are Polonia, who retain two games in hand on Cambridge, but were not in action this weekend. 

Elsewhere, Southampton secured a welcome success over fourth-placed Bristol, going the full five sets before pulling through (20-25, 25-22, 25-18, 22-25, 15-10).  

The race for top spot, at least at this point in time, looks far more clear cut in Division 1 North, with Newcastle Staffs the dominant force. 

They are now a full eight points clear with a game in hand after getting the better of Tamworth Spartans (25-14, 25-23, 25-23). 

In a clustered mid-table, Sheffield moved up to fifth and within a point of beaten opponents Coventry and Warwick Riga with a 3-1 win (19-25, 25-19, 25-19, 25-22). 

Dartford Crossers took advantage of Richmond Bucks’ inactivity in Division 2 South to move level on points with the London side by beating London Baks over a hard-fought four sets (25-22, 27-25, 22-25, 25-19). 

Both teams are now on 20 points, though Richmond have played a game less. 

Spelthorne Lions are now just two points behind fourth-placed Reading Aces after powering to victory against the Berkshire club in three (25-23, 25-22, 25-20).

There was also a welcome first triumph of the season for Cardiff Panthers, who edged two very close final sets to see off Wiltshire Mavericks’ challenge (25-22, 19-25, 29-27, 28-26). 

A highly-competitive Division 2 Central took another twist over the weekend, with four teams still firmly in contention to finish at the summit come the end of the season. 

MK City’s hopes of stretching their lead were dashed at Oxford Bulls, who continued their charge with a fifth victory from seven matches (25-21, 25-13, 25-10) in quick time. 

They now trail the leaders by six points with two games in hand. 

Another side who have performed well in the first half of the season, Loughborough Students, suffered an unexpected home defeat to their neighbours from just down the road, Leicester, succumbing by a 25-23, 20-25, 25-19, 25-22 margin. 

Newmarket took full advantage to leapfrog the students into second as they dispatched bottom club Cambridge 2 in four (25-16, 25-19, 23-25, 25-16). 

The division’s fixtures were completed with Northampton’s success over Norwich Spikers (25-19, 25-22, 23-25, 25-15) that pulled them eight points clear of their opponents, who occupy second from bottom. 

Division 3 North table toppers Darkstar Derbyshire are still unbeaten – but only just – after a five-set thriller over their closest rivals, Lincoln Cannons at the weekend. 

They cruised into a two-set lead but were pegged back to 2-2 before swinging the match back in the favour (25-18, 25-18, 21-25, 25-27, 15-12) and now lead the way by four points. 

Third-placed Everton Dugongs lost further ground in another thrilling match that went the distance against Nottingham Rockets. 

The East Midlands club fought off the Liverpudlians’ fight back from 2-0 down to eventually win by just two points in the fifth (25-18, 25-20, 18-25, 23-25, 16-14). 

Sheffield Springers maintained their mid-table position by defeating Newcastle Staffs 2 (25-18, 17-25, 25-18, 25-20), who are four points adrift at the bottom of the table. 

Hull Thunder also remain in danger of the drop after being beaten at home by Leeds Gorse 2 (25-18, 17-25, 25-18, 25-20), who are fourth, two points behind Everton. 

Women’s NVL 

University of Nottingham are six points clear at the top of Division 1 North after an eighth victory from eight against Everton Belugas. 

They were leading 25-12, 25-10 when the visitors suffered an injury to one of their players and so forfeited the match. 

Basement club Loughborough Students hauled themselves off the bottom of the table by beating fellow strugglers Stockport in Greater Manchester. 

After conceding the first set, they got the better of their opponents in the next three and their 26-28, 25-16, 27-25, 25-11 success gives them a point lead over their relegation rivals. 

Essex Trinity edged up to second place in Division 1 South after defeating Wessex with a degree of comfort (25-9, 25-14, 25-21). 

They now lead third-placed Richmond by a point but have played three more matches. 

A city derby between mid-table sides Bedminster and Bristol went the way of the former as they notched a 25-19, 25-21, 22-25, 25-20 success. 

London Inter Crocs had a happy trip home from over the border as they secured a decisive 25-10, 25-17, 25-21 victory at Team South Wales. 

Manchester Moss Side Jaguars’ lead at the top of Division 2 North is back out to eight points after they got the better of Sheffield in straight sets (25-15, 25-23, 25-17). 

However, it was not all doom and gloom for the South Yorkshire side as their other weekend game saw them bounce back from a set down to overcome Everton Narwhals (22-25, 25-20 25-15, 25-20). 

Third-placed The Miners Doncaster continued their strong run of form and are now only one point behind Manchester Liberators in second after a 25-19, 25-23, 15-25, 25-17 win over Newcastle Staffs. 

The promotion race in Division 2 West continues to be closely matched, led by Reading Aces, whose straight sets triumph over Wombourne (30-28, 25-14, 25-19) keeps them top of the pile. 

Two points behind with a game in hand are unbeaten Oxford Eagles, and their latest success against Southampton came after an early setback (21-25, 25-19, 25-17, 25-23). 

Two points behind them are Black Country, who remain in the frame despite not playing this weekend. 

There was also a maximum points haul for Tamworth Spartans, winners in straight sets against Cardiff Falcons (25-16, 25-19, 25-7). 

Just two matches were played in Division 2 East, the most meaningful of which saw Onyx London claim top spot with a game in hand after a successful short trip to Herts (25-19, 28-26, 25-19). 

In Kent, Dartford Chargers moved to within a point of Sussex Dolphins with a four-set victory (24-26, 25-20, 25-14, 25-18). 

Full NVL fixtures and results can be found here. 

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