NVL Preview (14th and 15th March) - Crucial matches aplenty in penultimate full weekend of fixtures 

And what a weekend it promises to be, with a host of clubs on the cusp of clinching divisional titles, fighting for the chance to figure in the play-offs or seeking to avoid relegation. 

Women’s NVL 

Richmond have already secured second place in Division 1 South behind runaway champions London Giants, but they can take their seasonal tally of wins in their final two games over the weekend. 

They travel west for a city double, first playing Bristol on Saturday and then meeting Bedminster on Sunday.

The other Sunday fixture pairs third-place London Inter Crocs against Team South Wales, who have hit late-season form. 

It’s surely the last realistic chance for Stockport to pull themselves out of trouble at the bottom of Division 1 North, even though they still have four games left. 

With just two points on the board, their fixture against second-bottom Everton Belugas really is must-win. 

Elsewhere, Cambridge can climb up to second, ahead of Manchester Marvels Mayhem, if they can overcome Loughborough Students at home. 

First-placed Reading Aces against second-placed Oxford Eagles takes top billing in Division 2 West, with a maximum-points win for either side putting them on pole position to take the title. 

Both sides have only lost once in the league this season, but the Berkshire hosts currently hold a two-point advantage, with each team having one more game to follow. 

Also on Sunday, fourth-placed Southampton host bottom-of-the table Cardiff Falcons. 

Another match takes place next Wednesday night as West Midlands rivals Wombourne and Tamworth Spartans go head to head at Dudley Evolve.

In Division 2 East, Cambridge 2 can, temporarily at least, go back to the summit if they earn maximum points from their trip to Richmond 2. 

They will still need current leaders Onyx to slip up if they are to usurp the Londoners and claim the title. 

Elsewhere, Sussex Dolphins host Herts in a mid-table battle. 

Champions Manchester Moss Side Jaguars round off their highly-successful Division 2 North season on Saturday morning with a trip to Newcastle Staffs. 

The other two matches involves team scrapping at the wrong end of the division, with bottom club Everton Narwhals desperate for the points against Leeds Gorse 2 and, just above them, Lincoln Cannons also at home against a Sheffield team with whom they are currently level on points. 

All nine teams play in Division 3 North, with Manchester Marvels Mystics able to clinch the title with victory against either Isle of Man Falcons or Hull Thunder. 

Second-placed York Falcons will take a big step towards securing second place if they can defeat Leeds Gorse 2 and Everton Seadragons. 

Newcastle Staffs 2, in third, and Chester Amazons, in fourth, do battle, with Urmston Grammar providing their other opposition. 

Leicester Athena Nova are level on points with MK City in Division 3 Central but with an inferior set quotient, so will hope to pile the pressure on their rivals’ final two matches in two weeks’ time with maximum points from their triangular. 

But that will be no simple task as they take on third-placed Cheltenham and Gloucester and fourth-placed Cambridge Rhinos at Bournside School. 

Ashfield Vipers have home court advantage as they bring the curtain down on their season against Darkstar Derbyshire 2 and Loughborough Students. 

It’s a full fixture calendar in Division 3 South East where a brace of wins for London Ravens – against Richmond 3 and Spelthorne Sharks – will make absolutely sure of their championship success. 

Ashcombe and Dorking, in second, will be looking to keep the pressure on just in case as Dartford Warriors and Invicta provide the opposition. 

Tendring, Essex Ravens and Sussex Dolphins 2 also meet. 

With the title already clinched by Bristol 2 and second place by Farnborough Phoenix in Division 3 South West, the best Portsmouth can hope for is third place as they prepare to tackle the latter of that top two and Plymouth. 

Southampton 2 could still also fill that berth if results go their way and they can do the business against Weymouth and Plymouth Mayflower. 

Men’s NVL 

Coventry and Warwick Riga could move up to second with one match of their Division 1 Borth season to go if they can overcome already-relegated Stockport at the Alan Higgs Centre. 

Last season’s National Shield finalists have enjoyed a decent season in a hugely-competitive league and will edge above Black Country by one point with a victory.

At the other end of a very congested table, Tamworth Spartans and Cambridge Rhinos are both desperate for points in their bod to stay out of trouble. 

Essex Blaze can wrap up the Division 1 South title this weekend if they can take the full allocation of points against Southampton. 

If they don’t, then the winners of the match between Cambridge, in second, and London Aces, in third, will remain on red alert. 

Fourth-placed IBB Polonia play their penultimate match of the season at home to Wessex, who could move out of the bottom two with a convincing triumph. 

There are no less than five matches in Division 2 South, with the top two, level on 26 points each, both in action. 

First Richmond Bucks visit Wiltshire Mavericks on Saturday, with the latter also hosting Reading Aces later in the day as they bid to pull away from trouble at the bottom. 

Dartford Crossers take their turn on Sunday when they host already-relegated Cardiff Panthers on Sunday. 

Reading play their second game of the weekend at home to London Baks, while Kent Invicta, just one point back from the top two, go to fourth-placed Spelthorne Lions. 

Oxford Bulls can all-but wrap up the Division 2 Central title on Sunday when they visit Northampton, given their strong set quotient that is far better than their rivals. 

Saturday will see second-placed MK City host relegated Cambridge 2, while third-placed Newmarket welcome Leicester. 

Norwich Spikers will hope for only the fourth victory of the season as they entertain Loughborough Students. 

Darkstar Derbyshire will be crowned Division 2 North champions if they can get the better of fourth-placed Sheffield Springers on Saturday. 

Everton Dugongs, meanwhile, will draw level on points with second-placed Lincoln Cannons if they can take maximum points against a Leeds Gorse 2 side just below them. 

It’s a big day for Weymouth in Division 3 South West as they can take home the title if they take six points from six in their triangular with Southampton 2 and Spelthorne Tigers at Itchen College Sports Centre on Saturday. 

If not, then Team South Wales will be back in contention as they travel along the M4 to play Bristol 2 and City of Bristol. 

Urbond Portsmouth, Guildford International and Bedminster 2 are all in mid-table as they conclude their respective seasons.  One win from two for London Lionhearts in their final triangular against London Wildcats and GNG Bedford will be enough to seal the Division 3 South East championship for them. 

Second-placed Onyx London round off their campaign with matches against Rhinos Cambridge and Tendring, while Newmarket 2, Essex Estonians and Worthing will fight it out for late-season points. 

The race for the Division 3 Central title has been hotly-contested all season and Birmingham City can ensure it goes to the wire by going top with victories over Tamworth Spartans 2 and Coventry and Warwick Riga 2. 

Telford will still be able to go back above them in their final triangular in two weeks’ time, but maximum points for the city club would certainly keep it interesting. 

Elsewhere, Black Country 2 are the highest place team in fourth as they prepare to take on Chelmsford and Nuneaton Inferno. 

There is just one triangular in Division 3 North, but it promises to be an intriguing one as second-placed Manchester Liberators have fourth-placed Liverpool in opposition, as well as Urmston Grammar. 

Full NVL fixtures and results can be found here.    

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