U18 Super 6 review (21st March) - Leeds at the double as Boswells and Richmond also reach Cup Finals 

They will be joined by The Boswells School (girls) and Richmond (boys), who were equally impressive in their pool and semi-final games, demonstrating they could produce the goods when the pressure was on. 

Girls’ competition 

Although a good number of the Leeds Gorse team have played Super League volleyball in 25-26, they have not always been at their best in this competition – until it really mattered. 

Placed in Pool B, they began by being pushed hard in the opening set against Urmston Grammar before pulling through to win it 27-25 and then capitalising by closing out the match much more comfortably (25-16). 

Those in purple really showed their intentions in their second match by outgunning a Richmond side who had won the fourth edition of the Super Series in January, winning 25-22, 25-22. 

Richmond had opened up with victory, defeating Urmston Grammar, 25-22, 25-18 to ensure qualification for the crossover semi-finals, but their setback against Leeds meant they faced a tougher task in the last four. 

The Boswells School came into the Super 6 having won three of the four Super Series this season and that confidence quickly showed as they overpowered South Bucks in double-quick time (25-9, 25-12). 

Malory Eagles also got the better of Bucks, albeit they were pushed hard in the second set, (25-17, 30-28), meaning both they and Boswells were already guaranteed a semi-final spot before their meeting. 

But it was Darren Lewis’ side who finished top of Pool A as they edged a well-contested three setter, bouncing back after dropping the second set to prevail in the decider (25-19, 21-25, 15-12). 

Those pool results saw Boswells take to the court to face familiar foes Richmond – a match frequently seen in the final down the years. 

The Essex side held their nerve to come through 25-20, 25-16 and seal a deserved path to Loughborough, much to the delight of their travelling support. 

Just as thrilled to be returning to the East Midlands for the final were Leeds, who took control early and never let up against Malory, as the London side looked to be suffering the effects of their gruelling match against Boswells. 

The Yorkshire club eventually ran out 25-19, 25-16 victors in what was the last semi-final of the day to conclude. 

It means last year’s two finalists in the girls will again meet at Cup Finals, where Leeds will hope to gain revenge for their 3-0 defeat last April. 

In the match for fifth and sixth place, it was Urmston Grammar who came out on top against South Bucks, securing a 25-15, 19-25, 15-9 success. 

Boys’ competition 

In the boys’ section, Pool A saw defending champions Leeds Gorse open up with victory over the side they edged out in last year’s final – Urmston Grammar – by a 25-19, 25-19 margin. 

That left Urmston needing to beat The Boswells School in their second match to keep alive their hopes of semi-final qualification – and they did just that with a 25-20 25-21 triumph. 

The Greater Manchester side still required a favour from Leeds to make it through to the semis, and the side in Orange obliged, prevailing 25-19, 25-20 against Boswells to end the latter’s hopes of progression. 

Pool B saw Richmond cruise to a straightforward victory against Deep Dish Crystal Palace (25-12, 25-21) before taking a rest to make way for one of the most competitive matches of the day. 

In it, Exeter Storm took the first set against Deep Dish, only to be pegged back, before gathering their composure to power through the tie breaker (25-18, 23-25, 15-10). 

With Richmond and Exeter already assured of going through, their game decided who would have a potentially slightly easier draw and it was the former who proved the stronger, registering a 25-20, 25-20 win. 

In the semi-finals, Leeds were in imperious form and showed their class in outplaying Exeter (25-13, 25-21), but the Devon club’s Super Series success in round 3 underlines just what a great season they have enjoyed nonetheless. 

The other last four encounter was much incredibly close and went the distance, with Richmond and Ursmton trading extended sets in a thriller to leave the outcome on a knife-edge. 

As it was, the Londoners found their best in the decider to book their passage to Cup Finals (28-26, 24-26, 15-8), leaving many in their opponents’ team to look forward to another opportunity to make it through in the U16 Super 6 this coming weekend. 

Deep Dish Crystal Palace clinched victory in the play-off for fifth and sixth, seeing off The Boswells School in another entertaining three setter (25-23, 16-25, 15-8). 

Images by Abdoulie Ndure (@ndurephoto) 

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