The Green and Gold return to the Super League | NVL Review 28th February and 1st March

Women’s NVL

The University of Nottingham sealed their place at the top of Division 1 North this weekend with another 3–0 victory, this time over Loughborough Students. The win confirms their immediate return to the MAAREE Women’s Super League.

A dominant 25-7, 25-5, 25-9 scoreline underlined their authority in the division, with the women in green and gold dropping just one set all season.

Loughborough looked to bounce back against second-placed Manchester Marvels Mayhem. After narrowly losing the first set 28-26, they managed to take the third 25-22, but the other three sets went the way of Mayhem, who now know promotion is out of reach.

Northampton kept Stockport rooted to the bottom with a 3–1 win (19-25, 25-23, 25-19, 25-19). Stockport will need to dig deep in their remaining fixtures to avoid relegation.

Division One South saw all eight teams in action. Team South Wales were pushed to five sets by Wessex, eventually prevailing 15-13 in the decider.

Bristol recorded a more straightforward 3–0 win (25-9, 25-18, 25-20) over Essex Trinity.

In the London derby between London Inter Crocs and Richmond, it was the away side who claimed two points after a back-and-forth encounter, taking the final set 15-11.

London Giants celebrated their league title with a 3–0 victory over Bedminster, extending their winning streak to 13 matches.

In Division 2 North, Everton Narwhals won a five-set thriller against Lincoln Cannons, who had led 2–1. The Merseyside side fought back to take the final two sets 25-20, 15-9.

Newcastle Staffs were also involved in a five-set battle but fell short against Sheffield, who returned to South Yorkshire with two points.

Narwhals sit on eight points and will hope their final two games — along with dropped points from Lincoln and Sheffield — give them a chance of survival.

Division 2 South had four fixtures. Dartford Chargers hosted Richmond 2 in the only match to go beyond three sets. After Richmond took the first two, Dartford levelled, but Richmond completed the reverse sweep with a 15-12 win in the fifth.

Cambridge hosted a triangular with Norwich Spikers and Worthing, claiming six valuable points to move within two of leaders Onyx London. Only Cambridge and Onyx can now finish top of Division 2 East, setting up a potentially decisive final day on 29 March.

Division 2 West saw three matches. Southampton overcame Tamworth Spartans 3–1 (25-17, 17-25, 25-21, 25-20), moving into fourth on 13 points with three games still to play. Tamworth remain sixth on eight points and in danger.

Cardiff Falcons remain bottom after a 3–0 defeat to Wombourne, while Coventry and Warwick Riga also suffered a 3–0 loss to Oxford Eagles.

Division 3 Central featured triangular action at Glebe Farm School, where MK City secured two wins to move level on points with Leicester Athena Nova, who also claimed two victories in their own triangular involving Darkstar 2 and Coventry and Warwick Riga 2. Leicester edge ahead on set quotient.

Division 3 South East was packed with three triangulars. London Ravens maintained their unbeaten run with two 3–0 wins over Dartford Warriors and Tendring and are now one win away from the title.

Essex Ravens split their weekend, defeating Invicta 3–0 before losing by the same scoreline to Spelthorne Sharks.

Richmond 3 beat Sussex Dolphins 3–0 but fell to second-placed Ashcombe Dorking. Sussex remain bottom after their 12th and 13th defeats of the season.

In Division 3 South West, Bristol travelled to Woodlands Community School and secured two 3–0 wins over Plymouth and Southampton 2. Southampton were then pushed to five sets by Plymouth, who returned home with valuable points despite narrowly missing out.

Men’s NVL

Newcastle Staffs celebrated clinching the Division 1 North title with a strong 3–1 win over closest rivals Black Country, after confirming their title success last time out.

Sheffield confirmed Stockport’s relegation with a 3–1 victory. Despite a surprise 3–0 win earlier this season over Staffs, Stockport have struggled for consistency.

Coventry and Warwick Riga defeated Tamworth Spartans 3–0 (25-18, 28-26, 25-20) to move above Manchester Marvels into third place.

Division 1 South remains finely poised. Essex Blaze capitalised on Cambridge not playing, beating Bristol 3–0 to move one point clear at the top, with both sides having played the same number of games.

Oxford Bulls continue their strong Division 2 Central campaign with a 3–0 win over Leicester, moving two points clear of MK City. MK missed the chance to go level after falling 3–2 to Newmarket despite leading 2–1.

In Division 2 North, Sheffield Springers beat Hull Thunder 3–1 to reach 19 points with a game in hand. Nottingham Rockets also claimed a 3–1 win over Newcastle Staffs 2.

Everton Dugongs matched that scoreline against Lincoln Cannons. With Cannons dropping points, Darkstar now sit two points clear at the top with a game in hand.

Division 2 South saw a tough weekend for Richmond Bucks, who lost two five-set matches to London Aces and Dartford Crossers. Spelthorne Lions defeated Cardiff Panthers 3–1, leaving Cardiff one loss away from relegation.

Division 3 North saw Hull Thunder 2 unable to claim any points thi sweekend with losses to Intervolley Manchester (3-0) and Liverpool (3-1).

Division 3 Central saw Birmingham City secure two 3–0 wins over Nuneaton Inferno and Darkstar Derbyshire 2, closing the gap to leaders Telford.

Telford also claimed maximum points from their triangular against Black Country 2 and Coventry and Warwick Riga 2, meaning promotion remains firmly in their hands.

In Division 3 South East, London Lionhearts dropped points in a 3–2 loss to Tendring but responded with a 3–1 win over Worthing.

Onyx also dropped points in a 3–1 defeat to Essex Estonians, though they beat GNG Bedford 3–0. They now sit five points off the top.

Division 3 South West saw Weymouth defeat leaders Team South Wales 3–1 before beating Bedminster by the same score. Team South Wales responded with a 3–0 win over Bedminster but can ill afford further slip-ups, with Weymouth holding a game in hand.

All results and fixtures can be found here

Photos by Simon Clarke and @jwakelinvisuals