NVL Review (7th and 8th March) - Blaze men strike crucial blow against Cambridge in title race

Men’s NVL 

Essex Blaze struck what looks like being the decisive blow in the Division 1 title race with a decisive win over second-placed Cambridge. 

Their 25-22, 25-23, 25-21 means they are now four points clear at the summit with each side having two games of their campaigns to go. 

London Aces are finishing the season strongly and are now just a point behind Cambridge in their after double success at the weekend. 

First they were 3-2 winners in a closely-contested match at Wessex (25-14, 20-25, 25-22, 23-25, 16-14) and followed that up with a more routine success over Southampton (25-13, 25-21, 25-19). 

Rhinos Cambridge have enjoyed a steady season in a competitive Division 1 North and they carried their record to 6-6 and lifted themselves three points clear of Tamworth Spartans by defeating them 3-0 (25-21, 25-19, 25-18) at Chesterton Sports Centre. 

Oxford Bulls took a further stranglehold on the Division 2 Central title race as they reeled off their ninth successive triumph – eight of them by 3-0 margins – in winning at Cambridge 2. 

Second-placed MK City dropped a point despite victory at home to Norwich Spikers as they had to go the distance to secure a 22-25, 25-23, 25-19, 21-25, 15-8 success. 

It means the Bulls now hold a three-point lead, with each side having two matches to play. 

It was a disappointing weekend for Newmarket whose title hopes were extinguished by Loughborough Students, who got back to winning ways after a recent slump (22-25, 25-21, 14-25, 25-16, 15-5). 

Northampton won the battle of the East Midlands teams, defeating Leicester 3-1 to stretch the gap to five points between them in the table (25-15, 16-25, 25-18, 25-23). 

The battle to finish top of Division 2 South took another twist as second-placed Dartford Crossers suffered an unexpected loss at home to Spelthorne Lions, despite twice leading (25-21, 21-25, 20-25, 25-16, 15-10). 

Instead of moving to the top above Richmond Bucks, they are now level on points with the Londoners, but with an inferior set quotient. 

Kent Invicta also took advantage with a 3-1 victory at Wilthsire Mavericks (21-25, 25-19, 25-18, 25-20) and are now just a point further back. 

London Baks recorded a welcome win to manoeuvre themselves towards mid-table safety as they beat basement club Cardiff Panthers 3-1 (25-19, 26-28, 25-20, 26-24). 

It’s as you were at the top of Division 2 North as the leading two teams both took maximum points. 

Darkstar Derbyshire emerged from a competitive local derby at Nottingham Rockets with a 3-1 victory (25-19, 20-25, 25-22, 25-22). 

Lincoln Cannons, meanwhile, remain two points behind having played a game more after being handed a walkover by Newcastle Staffs 2. 

Elsewhere, Everton Dugongs stay third after they were 3-0 victors over Hull Thunder (25-18, 25-20, 26-24) on Merseyside, while Leeds Gorse 2, in fourth, edged a five-set thriller against Sheffield Springers (25-19, 12-25, 25-19, 27-29, 15-6). 

Intervolley Manchester were celebrating this weekend as they surged to the Division 3 North title in making it 15 victories from 16 matches. 

They got the job done on the road in Yorkshire, beating Harrogate 3-1 and York Vikings 3-0, with Harrogate winning the third match in straight sets. 

There were mixed fortunes for Hull Thunder 2 as they headed across the Pennines for long-serving Martin Worsnop’s final games before retiring after a 40-year career in the game. 

The 61-year-old played a part in his side’s comeback 3-2 success over Manchester Marvels Mayhem, but they were defeated 3-1 by Manchester Moss Side Jaguars. 

Weymouth have moved to the top of Division 3 South West at the business end of the season with a 3-1 success over Urbond Portsmouth. 

Two more wins will guarantee they pinch top spot from long-time leaders Team South Wales. 

There were no matches in Division 3 Central or South East.

Women’s NVL 

University of Nottingham ensured they finished their Division 1 North campaign with a 100 per cent record with a weekend double in the North West. 

First, on Saturday, they were 25-16, 25-21, 25-16 winners at Stockport and then, on Sunday, they completed a 3-1 victory at second-placed Manchester Marvels Mayhem in a match rearranged from earlier in the season. 

The Green and Golds’ 25-18, 25-20, 23-25, 25-15 success was only the second time they had dropped a set all season, but it nevertheless means they will finish at least 12 points clear at the top once all matches have been completed. 

Cambridge are up to third but were pushed all the way in their encounter with Everton Belugas who were 2-1 up in sets at one point before succumbing 25-19, 22-25, 25-27, 25-23, 16-14. 

There was just one match in Division 1 South and it saw Team South Wales continue their recent resurgence and pull further clear of trouble with a confident 25-9, 25-16, 25-17 victory over Essex Trinity. 

The race continues for second spot in Division 2 North behind champions Manchester Moss Side Jaguars and The Miners Doncaster remain favourites to clinch it after a straight sets triumph over Leeds Gorse 2 (25-18, 25-7, 25-23). 

They now know that a win in their last match will be enough, regardless of what third placed Manchester Liberators – who were 3-1 winners at Sheffield this weekend (25-12, 16-25, 25-19, 25-23) - achieve in their final two matches. 

Newcastle Staffs are almost certain to finish in fourth after their latest win – 3-0 at Lincoln Cannons (25-17, 25-8, 25-19). 

Sussex Dolphins moved up to fourth in Division 2 East on set quotient after they got the better of Norwich Spikers 3-1 on their home court (25-20, 26-28, 25-20, 25-20). 

Oxford Eagles set up what is likely to be a title decider with Reading Aces as the came from a set down to record a 3-1 victory at Cardiff Falcons (25-27, 25-16, 25-19, 25-19). 

The top two sides meet this coming weekend in what will be a pivotal penultimate league game of the season for both. 

Southampton put further daylight in between themselves and Wombourne in the battle for fourth spot with a reverse sweep over their Midlands opponents (20-25, 23-25, 25-20, 25-18, 15-10). 

Bristol 2 claimed the Division 3 South West title by ending the season unbeaten as they won their final two triangular matches of the campaign.

They beat city rivals City of Bristol 2 and Bedminster 2 by 3-0 margins, enabling them to get the better of long-time rivals Farnborough Phoenix. 

In the other match in the triangular, Bedminster 2 were comfortable straight sets victors. 

Manchester Marvels Mystics are the cusp of being Division 3 North champions after they made it 14 wins from 14 with a 3-0 win over Everton Seadragons and a 3-1 success against Urmston Grammar, the latter edging the third match in the triangular 3-2. 

Mystics now need just one more success to get the job done, regardless of second-placed York Falcons’ last four results. 

There were no matches in Division 3 Central of Division 3 South East this weekend. 

Images by Jon Cornish and Matt Halfpenny

Full NVL fixtures and results can be found here.   

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