NVL Preview (24th and 25th October) - A busy weekend, potential upsets and runaway leaders

Women’s NVL

Cambridge ARU will take on Manchester Moss Side Jaguars - the only team yet to play an NVL match in Division 1 North - and will aim to try and pip Northampton for top of the table, after the East Midlands team took two wins in two last weekend.

Loughborough Students will host Darkstar Derbyshire in an important match for both teams - Loughborough’s home advantage will hopefully earn them their first win of the season, and Darkstar will look to take the lead of the Division and begin their path back to the MAAREE Women’s Super League.

Division 1 South sees London Inter Crocs poised for a potential six point haul this weekend, as they match up against Team South Wales on Saturday and Reading Aces on Sunday. The Crocs will aim to use their consistent form seen last weekend to turn their second place into first.

Onyx London, current table toppers, will meet Richmond to preserve their lead as Richmond search for their first win this season. With the threat of the Crocs lurking this weekend, Onyx will aim to stay unbeaten and keep them at bay.

In Division 2 North, York Falcons clash with Manchester Liberators, as York will aim to lift themselves from the bottom of the table and the Liberators preserving their position on the cusp of the top two. 

This weekend also has Stockport line up against The Miners Doncaster - the Miners will look to notch their first victory on away turf as Stockport will aim for another three points.

Division 2 Central could see a runaway leader in Bedminster - also in position for a healthy points haul as matchups against MK City and Tamworth Spartans could put them further ahead of the second placed Spartans. 

Bristol 2 will host Leicester Athena Nova in Leicester’s first NVL match - with 131 miles separating the teams, Leicester will hope to make the journey yield three points.

Division 2 South has Ashcombe Dorking clash with Sussex Dolphins, and with both teams winless so far in the season, this matchup could be the start of turning tides for either side.

London Ravens will have their weekend full of action - hosting second placed Herts on Saturday before visiting Richmond 2 to hopefully add to their three points and put themselves amongst the frontrunners of Herts and Southampton.

Division 3 North has a packed schedule - a triangular between Chester Amazon, Ashfield Vipers and Isle of Man Falcons could scramble a packed table and put the Vipers just one point behind Everton Narwhals, current leaders.

Another triangular between Darkstar Derbyshire 2, Newcastle Staffs 2 and Leeds Gorse 3 could also jumble up the pecking order, as a clash of junior sides could give their respective senior teams an idea on ones to watch.

Division 3 Central has a Midlands clash between Loughborough Students 2, Nottingham Rockets and Nuneaton Flames. With every team in the division having played two matches, there could be a new leader shooting to the top after the dust settles at Parkin Sports Centre.

Division 3 South East stays dormant for another weekend, but Division 3 South West has two triangulars to bring the action to the southern reaches of the country - Bedminster 2, Cheltenham & Gloucester and Southampton 2 will vye for points and Portsmouth, Weymouth and City of Bristol come to blows as two of the three will score their first wins of the season.

Men’s NVL

Division 1 North has Sheffield four points in front, but Durham Palatinates will want to cruise past Manchester Marvels if they want to begin on their path back to the DYNAMIK Men’s Super League and push Sheffield out of the promotion playoff spot.

The Palatinates will also face off against Lincoln Cannons - victory against both could see them tie for first in the league, depending on how many sets they get the job done in. Coventry and Warwick Riga will also be in the mix against the Cannons, as they look for their first win of the season

Division 1 South has London Aces at the top of the table, but Southampton will clash with Cambridge ARU to cut a six point gap into three, and MK City will match up with Bristol who, like Cambridge, are playing their first match of the season and will look to get off on the right foot.

Leeds Gorse 2 and Stockport will do battle in Division 2 North, and a frontrunning matchup comes in the form of second placed Nottingham Rockets aginast table toppers Leeds - giving Leeds the chance to go nine points up on the Rockets, or for Nottingham to shut the gap down completely.

Loughborough Students will have their first matches away this weekend, as they visit Sheffield Springers and Manchester Liberators to get their campaign started and bag some early points.

Intervolley Manchester will host Everton Dugongs to cap off a strong weekend of action in the north.

Division 2 Central sees Leicester versus Birmingham City as both teams will look to avenge their opening losses to rise up the rankings. Tamworth Spartans battle with Spelthorne Future Stars as Tamworth aim to protect their early lead, and Newmarket will have to fight away against Reading Aces to ensure they can keep up with the Spartans at the top.

The top two in Division 2 South will meet on Saturday, as Wessex host London Lionhearts to try and curb the Lionhearts’ three match winning streak and bring the five point gap down. Richmond Bucks face Exeter Storm to try and score their first points of the season, and Weymouth have their hands full with London Baks on Saturday and Kent Invicta on Sunday.

Division 3 North sees two triangular fixtures as Manchester Moss Side Jaguars, Liverpool and Manchester Marvels Marauders light up the Moss Side Leisure Centre and Harrogate, Hull Thunder and Newcastle Staffs 2 do battle in the Steve Prescott Sports Centre.

The “busiest division” award goes to Division 3 Central, with three triangular fixtures seeing all nine teams in the division battle for cruical points. 

Coventry and Warwick Riga 2 host Darkstar Derbyshire 2 and Cambridge 2, GNG Bedford, Rhinos Cambridge 2 and Black Country 2 will match up, and Nuneaton Inferno, Norwich Spikers and Tamworth Spartans complete the full lineups for this weekend.

NVL Newcomers Red Eagles Luton will have a chance to protect their early Division 3 South East lead by besting Guildford International at home, as Newmarket 2 host a triangular between the division’s other rookies in Chelmsford and London Brazukas Infinity - the latter just one point off the top spot.

Division 3 South West will have two triangular fixtures as Cardiff Panthers host Worthing and Southampton 2, and Bristol 2 will have Bedminster and Weymouth 2 to look after as the teams look to establish an early running order.

Across a busy week of fixtures, you can keep up to date with the NVL here.

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