Cup Finals 2026 day two round-up - Darkstar beat Legends in epic Shield final

Amid a febrile atmosphere at Loughborough University’s Sir David Wallace Building, the East Midlands side roared back from the jaws of defeat to seal a league and cup double, having already secured the NVL Division 2 North title.

Despite their non-NVL opponents Legends having only been formed at the very back end of 2024, Darkstar arguably went in as underdogs, given the talent at the Oldham team’s disposal, including England internationals Ben Lucas and Chester Searle, as well as a selection of former Stockport Super League players.

But it did not faze Audrey Cooper’s team one bit as they saved two match points to eventually come out on the right side of a dramatic decider.

Legends made the early running as they gradually worked their way back into the first set and eventually took it 25-21, but those in all black were soon level, edging the second 25-23.

Back came the North West team to go a set back in front (25-22), but the Derbyshire side refused to buckle and came back from the brink to edge it 28-26.

That set up a tense decider and though Legends took the early advantage, it was Darkstar who, through a succession of blocks at the death, turned things around to lift the winners’ trophy (15-13).

MVP was the victors’ Trafim Brokh thanks to his 24 kills and three blocks for 27 match points.

Earlier, Urmston Grammar boys (U15) and Richmond girls (U16) both secured successes for their second National Cup wins of the weekend.

The North West team were first on Court 2 and were quickly out of the blocks to register the first set 25-19, but opponents Richmond soon squared the match by taking the second 25-14.

That, however, was as good as it got for the South West Londoners, as Urmston took a firm grip and reeled off the next two 25-19, 25-20 for a 3-1 overall win, with Tug Khos MVP.

Richmond girls’ triumph was much more straightforward as they bossed their match with Newcastle Staffs from the outset.

The West Midlanders showed plenty of grit and fight, but it was Francesca Secchi’s troops who demonstrated their superior firepower in the key moments and came out on top by a 25-15, 25-16, 25-18 margin.

MVP was Richmond's Amber Wariebi.

In the first match on Court 1 to start the day off, The Boswells School repeated their triumph of last year in the girls’ U18 Final as they overcame the same opponents Leeds Gorse.

In 2025, it had finished 3-0 to the Essex side, but it was much closer this time around and looked as if it would go to five sets at one point.

Boswells looked to be in total control as they clinched the first two sets 25-21, 25-20, but the Yorkshire side showed superb inner strength to hit back.

Indeed, they saved match points on the way to winning an extended third set 27-25 and then hunkered down in the fourth.

In a set that could have gone either way, Boswells showed their experience on the big occasion to hold their nerve and – eventually – close it out 29-27 in what was a superb advert for junior volleyball. Boswell’s Tilly Hutton was named MVP.

The last match of the day saw Leeds Gorse U18 bidding to defend the title they had won 12 months ago, facing a talented Richmond side who have got stronger as the season has gone on.

Both sides could boast Super League and NVL experience among their ranks, so it promised to be another tight encounter, but, in the end, the side from the North won with a degree of comfort.

The first set was close and pivotal, with Leeds eventually coming through to clinch it 

Leeds' Emmanuel Oretoye has been impressive all seasaon in the U18 Super Series and he was again on top of his game in putting in an MVP performance.

Images by Rebecca Keating Photography, Sky Park and Shathusan Mathiyalagan.