Knights Charge On as Survival Race Tightens | Super League Review 27th, 28th and 1st March

MAAREE Women's Super League

 

Team SideOut hosted a spectacular Super League Live event at the Score Leisure Centre, where fans were treated to two matches that highlighted just how tight the league has become this season.

The hosts faced a determined Leeds Gorse side who, prior to the weekend, had claimed just three sets all season. 

Travelling with a light squad of seven players, Leeds knew they faced a tough challenge against a SideOut team that had comfortably beaten them just a month earlier at the Ruth Gorse Academy.

SideOut began in formidable fashion, taking the opening set 25-14 in under 20 minutes. However, Leeds responded brilliantly. 

However, they edged the second set 25-23 before digging deep to claim the third 26-24, stunning the home crowd and shifting the momentum.

Defensively, it was a relentless battle. Olivia Cuthbert (12) and Daniella Tchandeu (10) combined for 22 digs, epitomising Leeds’ “keep the ball off the floor” mentality in extended rallies that had the crowd roaring for every point. 

Among the almost 250-strong crowd, cheering were members of the Leeds Gorse men’s team, who had travelled down ahead of their own fixture on Sunday.

Perfection Uwagboe delivered an outstanding performance for Leeds, recording 25 kills at an impressive .415 hitting efficiency, alongside three blocks and six digs to earn MVP honours.

With their Final 4 hopes hanging in the balance, SideOut knew they needed at least two points. They regrouped to take the fourth set 25-22, forcing a decider. Head coach Mark Kontopoulos utilised his deep bench, rotating 14 players across the five sets, though the absence of Anastasia Konolova was felt, particularly in attack.

Carla Mulli led the hosts with 14 kills and claimed MVP recognition for SideOut, combining solid passing with clinical finishing despite Leeds’ resilient defence holding her to a .243 hitting percentage.

The fifth set was another tense affair, but SideOut’s experience proved decisive as they secured the victory and two crucial points to keep themselves firmly in the Final 4 race.

While SideOut tried to keep pace, Newcastle Knights showcased why they are rapidly becoming serious contenders for a Final 4 spot, claiming five of a possible six points across the weekend.

They opened with a Friday night clash against Essex Rebels. Having beaten Essex just a couple of weeks earlier, the Knights were confident but cautious against a Rebels side fresh off a five-set thriller with Malory.

Newcastle edged a tight first set 25-23, with Jenna Vaske (6 kills) and Caroline McMahon (5 kills) setting the tone early. 

The Knights then shifted gears, dominating the second and third sets 25-20 and 25-14.

McMahon finished with 13 kills, one block and five digs to earn MVP honours. For Essex, Makena Smith claimed the team’s MVP award, while Elayna Puprey was the only Rebel to reach double figures in kills.

Sunday presented an even bigger test, with the Knights hosting Malory Eagles, knowing a strong result could propel them as high as second in the league.

After limited court time on Friday, Daisy Boardman made her presence felt against Malory, delivering a team-high 13 kills and three blocks. 

Middle blocker Renee Kilough had a monster outing with 11 blocks across five sets, alongside six kills.

Despite those standout performances, it was again Caroline McMahon who claimed MVP recognition, contributing nine kills, one block, eight digs, and a 2.32 passing rating in another composed display.

After dropping the opening set 25-16, Newcastle responded to take the second 25-20. Malory stormed back in the third, dominating 25-12, but the Knights rallied once more, claiming the fourth 25-18 before sealing the decider 15-12 to secure two invaluable points.

Malory’s challenging weekend began with a trip north to face unbeaten Durham Palatinates, who officially became the first women’s team this season to qualify for the Final 4.

Durham’s 3-0 victory was built on collective strength rather than individual dominance; no player recorded more than seven kills, but the team totalled 31 across three sets. Seven service aces and a relentless defensive effort, producing 54 digs, underlined their control.

Ali Ruffin led the way with six kills, two blocks and 10 digs to claim MVP honours, while Verere Oyearone was recognised for the Eagles.

Durham completed a perfect weekend with another 3-0 victory, this time over Essex. 

Izzy Decker powered home 12 kills, while setter Elena Bullemer orchestrated the offence efficiently, earning MVP recognition with just over a 50% success rate on her attacking distribution. 

Elly Schraeder was clinical in the middle, hitting a remarkable .900 with nine kills from 10 swings.

The results have reshaped the standings. Malory now sit fourth, having played 12 matches, one more than both Essex and SideOut. The Rebels remain on 20 points, with the two London sides level on 22.

At the other end of the table, Leeds Gorse’s point gained against SideOut closes the gap on Lionhearts Vinarius to five points. 

Darkstar leapfrogged the London side following a 3-0 victory in a competitive contest (25-22, 25-20, 25-22).

Bettencourt was named MVP for Lionhearts with four kills and a block, while Maria Bartelli earned the accolade for Darkstar after stepping in at libero. 

Hajar El Alouani delivered a game-high 18 kills as she continues her pursuit of the league’s top scorer title.

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Dynamik Men's Super League

 

It may not have been as dramatic as the women’s side, but the Dynamik Men’s Super League still delivered a weekend of results with major implications at both ends of the table particularly in the battle for survival.

Part one of Super League Live saw a crucial fixture for Richmond Docklands, who welcomed back Artemii Solodukhov following his four-match suspension.

The opening set was a tight, point-for-point contest. 

Both sides impressed offensively but were hindered by a high number of service errors, reminiscent of last week’s Super League Live clash between Essex and Malory. 

The University of Nottingham edged the first set 25-23.

The second set followed a similar pattern, with neither team able to build more than a two-point cushion. 

This time it was Richmond who came out on top, snatching it 28-26 to level the match.

With João Alves back in the lineup alongside Solodukhov, hopes of a late-season resurgence for Richmond began to grow. The pair provided significant firepower and athleticism, raising the prospect of a “great escape” from the drop zone.

However, despite Richmond’s attacking threats, an injury-hit Nottingham side found another level in the third and fourth sets, pulling away 25-18 and 25-21 to secure the victory.

In the absence of Connel Kane, Finley Bullivant stepped up impressively for Nottingham, registering six kills and four blocks in a standout performance. On his return to the top flight, Solodukhov claimed the MVP accolade with 11 kills and two aces, offering Richmond a glimmer of hope moving forward.

Essex and Malory mirrored their female counterparts with demanding trips to the North East.

Essex entered the weekend sitting fifth, with their Super League status still not mathematically secured. 

They travelled to the Newcastle University Sports Centre on Friday night knowing the Knights would pose a stern test, having previously lost to them on home court.

Despite riding high from an impressive 3-0 BUCS victory over Durham midweek, the Rebels were unable to replicate that form against a Newcastle side who have lost just once all season.

The league leaders delivered a clinical and dominant display, running out 3-0 winners (25-15, 25-18, 25-15). 

However, the victory was tempered by concern as standout outside hitter James Ledbury suffered an injury in the opening set.

Even with that setback, Newcastle’s squad depth proved decisive. Head coach Sam Shenton rotated his roster effectively, underlining why the Knights remain a formidable force.

Kelechi Bell contributed 14 points (10 kills, three blocks and one ace), while Hayden Frear stepped in superbly for Ledbury. 

Across two sets, Frear produced seven kills, two blocks, a 2.36 passing rating and two aces to earn MVP honours for the Knights. 

Nathan Hall was recognised as Essex’s MVP after delivering a composed performance for the Rebels.

Essex had entered the weekend buoyed by that hard-fought 3-0 win over Durham, with each set decided by the minimum two-point margin. They hoped to replicate that resilience when the sides met again on Sunday in the Super League.

The match began in similar fashion, with Essex claiming the first two sets 25-22 and 26-24. Durham responded by taking the third, forcing a fourth set as fatigue began to show. 

However, Essex regrouped to close it out 25-18, opening a six-point gap over the Palatinates.

While not yet mathematically safe, Essex hold a game in hand over Durham, which they will play this weekend against London Giants.

The Giants can also capitalise on their own game in hand and potentially move level on points, and top of the league on set quotient, following a 3-1 victory over Leeds.

Leeds arrived at Brixton Recreation Centre, encouraged by their women’s side pushing last year’s bronze medallists from Final 4 to five sets. 

They made a promising start, edging the opening set 26-24 against the reigning champions.

London Giants responded emphatically, taking the second 25-16. Leeds kept the third competitive, but the Giants closed it out 25-23 before dominating the fourth 25-14 to seal the win.

Ukrainian opposite Daniil Pyvovarenko impressed with 15 kills from 30 swings and four blocks. 

However, it was Polish outside Dorian Poinc who claimed MVP honours for the Giants, contributing 10 kills, two blocks, five digs and two aces. 

Nelson Murangwa continued his leadership role for Leeds, earning MVP recognition with 14 kills, one block, seven digs and three aces.

After suffering their only defeat of the season to Malory at Opening Weekend, Newcastle Knights were eager to reverse the narrative on Sunday and maintain their place at the top of the Dynamik Men’s Super League.

Malory started quickly, taking a tense opening set 27-25. Newcastle responded with authority, determined not to repeat their earlier loss, claiming the next three sets 25-22, 25-19 and 25-22.

With Ledbury sidelined, Shenton again turned to Hayden Frear, who once more rose to the occasion with 11 kills. 

The Knights’ offence fired on all cylinders, with Oli Tuck and Kelechi Bell both recording 15 kills. 

Setter Neil Rea orchestrated proceedings effectively, utilising his full range of attacking options as the team hit .240 collectively. Kristo Bianchin added further impact through the middle with 10 kills from 15 swings.

For Malory, Abdimalik Shukri followed up last weekend’s MVP display against Essex with another strong performance, tallying 13 kills, two blocks and five digs. 

Nathan Fullerton added 12 kills, three blocks, six digs and an ace.

Despite the 3-1 defeat to Newcastle, Malory did not leave the North East empty-handed. On Saturday, they secured a 3-0 victory over Durham Palatinates.

The first two sets were tightly contested, with Malory edging them 25-23 and 25-22 before asserting control in the third, 25-16. 

Ryan Dickson, returning to the Graham Sports Centre where he won the domestic treble with Durham two seasons ago, showed no sentimentality, contributing five kills, a block and a 2.67 passing rating.

Nathan Fullerton delivered a dominant offensive display with 18 kills and two blocks, earning MVP recognition as he continues his pursuit of both the league’s top kills and digs tallies.

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After an intense weekend, most teams now enjoy a brief pause in Super League action. Essex, however, remain in the spotlight with two significant fixtures scheduled on International Women’s Day.

SideOut will aim to replicate their recent National Cup success over the Rebels, where they secured a 3-2 victory. 

Meanwhile, the men’s side will look to cause an upset as London Giants travel to the Essex Sport Arena for the final Super League Live event of the season.

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