National Cup and Shield Review | SideOut come through in thriller

Men's National Cup 

The Essex Rebels continued their title defence with a routine victory over Division 1 North side Coventry and Warwick Riga. Despite being pushed close in the first set (25–23), the Rebels showed their Super League pedigree with dominant second and third sets (25–17, 25–16), securing their place in the semi-finals once again.

Super League strugglers Richmond Docklands boosted morale this weekend with a commanding 3–0 (25–21, 25–15, 25–21) victory over last year’s Super League side, Essex Blaze.

Having faced each other twice last season, with Richmond coming out on top in 3–1 and 3–2 league victories,  they knew it would be a tough contest. 

However, Richmond showcased their class and returned to winning ways, something they will look to carry into their final league matches of the season.

Another London side in action was the London Giants, who took on last year’s Shield winners, Wessex. The reigning Super League champions are chasing a season double and took another step towards that goal with a 3–0 win over the south coast side.

A tight first set (25–23) suggested Wessex might cause an upset, but the Giants responded emphatically, dominating the second and third sets 25–17 and 25–14.

Former Super League side Newcastle Staffs faced Malory Eagles, and with aspirations of promotion, Staffs would have hoped for a strong performance. However, it was last year’s runners-up, Malory Eagles, who secured a 3–0 victory.

The 25–17, 25–21, 25–17 scoreline highlighted the Eagles’ ability to bounce back from recent tough Super League encounters, with their last three league matches all going to five sets, winning just one of them.

Women’s National Cup Cup

In the Women’s Cup, five Super League teams were in action, meaning at least one would not progress to the semi-final stage.

Durham Palatinates continued their unstoppable season, handing Super League promotion hopefuls London Giants their first loss of the campaign. The Palatinates demonstrated why they sit top of the Super League table and remain on course for a season double.

They prevented the Giants from finding the form that has served them so well in Division 1 South, taking the match in straight sets: 25–17, 25–20, 25–14, to secure their semi-final place.

A London derby saw last year’s champions, Malory Eagles, face Onyx London. The Super League side underlined why they were League and Cup champions last year with a ruthless 3–0 victory (25–10, 25–8, 25–11), keeping them firmly on course to defend their National Cup title.

The match of the weekend belonged to Team SideOut Polonia and Essex Rebels — the only fixture across the competition to require five sets.

With neither side having faced each other yet this league season, both anticipated a tight contest, particularly as each came into the weekend following a win and a loss the previous week.

Essex took the opening set 25–16, catching SideOut cold. However, the Leyton-based side regrouped superbly, neutralising Essex’s middle attack and applying relentless service pressure to claim the next two sets 25–15, 25–15.

The Rebels, determined to reach the National Cup Final, refused to let the match slip away in four sets, responding with a 25–15 fourth-set victory to force a decider.

In the tie-break, Team SideOut held their nerve to snatch victory from Essex and claim a vital win. With their place in the Final 4 not yet guaranteed this season, they will hope to add at least a National Cup trophy to their ever-expanding cabinet.

Essex must quickly regroup as they head to ACS Cobham this weekend for the next Super League Live fixture.

Darkstar also progressed to the semi-finals following a walkover against Waterloo Thunder.

Men’s National Shield 

In the National Shield, Darkstar Derbyshire demonstrated the form that has taken them to the top of Division 2 North as they hosted Oxford Bulls at the University of Derby.

A strong start from the East Midlanders saw them take the opening set 25–17. However, they were pegged back in the second, with the Bulls edging a tight contest 25–23.

Determined to keep their league and Shield ambitions alive, Darkstar responded well, claiming the next two sets 25–19 and 25–21 to progress to the semi-finals.

Legends Oldham also continued their impressive debut run in the competition with a convincing 3–0 victory (25–17, 25–18, 27–25) over Leeds Gorse 2.

One of the non-NVL sides remaining in the competition, Legends will be hoping to maintain their momentum, having yet to drop a set so far.

Another non-NVL team, Army, also kept their National Shield dream alive with a 3–0 win (25–19, 25–19, 29–27) against Liverpool.

The Army side have now progressed a stage further than last season and will hope for a favourable semi-final draw as they aim to secure their place at Cup Finals Weekend.

Brazukas were the final team of the weekend to claim victory, recording a 3–0 win over Watford in a closely contested match.

Watford pushed them all the way in the first two sets, which finished 25–23 and 27–25, but were unable to maintain that level in the third, which Brazukas sealed 25–20.

Women’s National  Shield

In the Women’s Shield, all but one match was decided in straight sets.

Cambridge faced Lincoln Cannons, with the team in red dominating proceedings to secure a 25–20, 25–9, 25–12 victory.

Similarly, Tamworth overcame West Midlands Rivas, Coventry and Warwick Riga with a 25–12, 25–19, 25–14 scoreline to book their place in the semi-finals.

Farnborough Phoenix were involved in a closer encounter with Wombourne, but the Hampshire side prevailed in straight sets (25–20, 25–14, 25–23).

Reading Aces were the only team to drop a set in the Women’s National Shield. However, that did not prevent them from progressing to the last four with a 3–1 victory over Dartford Chargers.

After a dominant opening set (25–14), the Chargers responded to take the second 25–18. But Reading, who currently sit top of Division 2 West, regained control to close out the match and secure their semi-final place.

The National Cup and Shield semi-final draw will take place tomorrow (Tuesday 17th February) at 16:00 on the Volleyball England YouTube channel.