NVL Preview (7th and 8th March) - Key clash in Men’s Division 1 South title race 

Men’s NVL 

That’s no more so than in Division 1 South where leaders Essex Blaze take on second-placed Cambridge in what is the last fixture of the weekend to start (6.45pm on Sunday), but arguably one of the most important. 

The Chelmsford-based team are just a point clear at the top having played the same number of games as their rivals, so victory for either side here could be a pivotal step towards the title. 

Looking to take a closer order to both sides are third-placed London Aces, who can do so if they use their game in hand to good effect. 

Their weekend South Coast double header sees them first visit Wessex on Saturday and then take on Southampton on Sunday. 

With both top spot and the team to finish bottom both already settled in Division 1 North, the closely-matched teams in between are still jostling for position.  

Rhinos Cambridge and Tamworth Spartans, who play on Saturday, find themselves at the bottom of that particular pack but both have two games in hand of a number of their rivals, so will look to use victory as a springboard to climb the table with a late flourish. 

All eight teams in Division 2 Central play on Saturday as the Championship races continues apace and leaders Oxford Bulls will be quietly confident or continuing their recent surge at Cambridge 2. 

Second-placed MK City hosts second-bottom Norwich Spikers, while Newmarket realistically need to be the side immediately below them, Loughborough Students, to have any hope of maintaining their bid with the games fast running out. 

The mid-table East Midlands battle between Northampton and Leicester completes the division’s fixtures. 

Having beaten leaders Richmond Bucks last weekend, Dartford Crossers can assume leadership of Division 2 South if they can win their game in hand at home to Spelthorne Lions on Sunday. 

First, though, on Saturday, third-placed Kent Invicta travel to Wiltshire Mavericks while Cardiff Panthers are guaranteed to finish bottom unless they overcome London Baks in Wales. 

Despite their recent wobble, Darkstar Derbyshire are still in a strong position in Division 2 North, being a point behind Lincoln Cannons, but with two games in hand. 

They can return to the summit if they can win a Trent derby against Nottingham Rockets on Saturday morning. 

Everton Dugongs are third and can close the gap on the Cannons if they get the better of Hull Thunder on Merseyside, while a maximum points win for Sheffield Springers or Leeds Gorse 2 in their match-up will be enough to ensure they will finish the weekend higher in the table. 

Intervolley Manchester travel across the Pennines for their triangular double header against York Vikings and Harrogate knowing maximum points in what will be their final two matches will guarantee them the Division 3 North title. 

Hull Thunder 2 have a Sunday double header as they make the trip the other way along the M62 to face both Manchester Marvels Marauders and Manchester Moss Side Jaguars. 

There are no matches in Division 3 North Central, but in Division 3 South West, Weymouth can usurp Team South Wales at the top if they can secure maximum points against near-neighbours Urbond Portsmouth. 

There are no matches this weekend in Division 3 South East. 

Women’s NVL 

Champions University of Nottingham will complete their league programme this weekend and need to win their remaining two matches to go through the Division 1 North season unbeaten. 

Freddie Fairbairn’s side have made short work of regaining their Super League status at the first attempt but will want to complete their 25-26 undefeated in style with a North West double at Stockport (Saturday) and likely runners-up Manchester Marvels on Sunday. 

Elsewhere, Cambridge have the chance to leapfrog Northampton into third place when they host Everton Belguas. 

There is just one match in Division 1 South, but it is an important one for Team South Wales as they bid to pull away from the bottom of the table welcoming Essex Trinity to Eastern Community Campus. 

Oxford Eagles can put the pressure on Division 2 West leaders Reading Aces should they overcome bottom club Cardiff Falcons on their travels. 

The two meet next week in what could well end up being a title decider. 

Southampton and Wombourne, meanwhile, go head-to-head in a mid-table clash.  

In Division 2 East, Sussex Dolphins can move up a place on set quotient if they can be victorious when entertaining Norwich Spikers at The Trinangle in the only game of the weekend. 

The solitary triangular in Division 3 East is an all-Bristol affair, with three of the city’s clubs – who have experienced vastly different fortunes this season – meeting at Avanti Gardens School. 

Bristol 2 go into the games knowing that maximum points will not only see them go through the season unbeaten but also clinch the title as well, and they will be favourites to achieve those goals against mid-table Bedminster 2 and second-from-bottom City of Bristol. 

Merseyside is the venue for the only Division 3 North triangular, where unbeaten Manchester Marvels Mystics could take a big step towards the title. 

Two more maximum points wins would leave them one win away from their championship goal, with Urmston Grammar and Everton Seadragons standing in their way this weekend. 

There are no games in Division 3 Central or Division 2 South East this weekend. 

Full NVL fixtures and results can be found here.   

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