NVL review (24th and 25th October) - Palatinates make a move as Onyx miss opportunity

Men's NVL 

After starting their campaign later than most, Durham Palatinates top Division 1 North on set quotient after double victory over the weekend. 

First, on Saturday, the team relegated from the DYNAMIK Men’s Super League last season proved too strong for Manchester Marvels at Graham Sports Centre, running out 25-19, 25-21, 21-17 winners. 

Then, on Sunday, they followed it up with a 3-0 success at Lincoln Cannons (25-12, 25-15, 27-25). 

The two victories made it three out of three for the North East side, meaning they are level on points with Sheffield but hold an advantage in having not conceded any sets thus far. 

It was a chastening week for the Cannons who also lost in agonising fashion at home to Coventry and Warwick Riga (15-25, 26-24, 25-15, 16-25, 15-13), and they are 0-3 in their seasonal record so far. 

With table toppers London Aces without a game in Division 1 South, both Cambridge ARU and Bristol won their first games of the new season. 

The former were 25-17, 25-23, 25-21 victors over Southampton, while the latter were 3-1 winners at MK City (25-20, 26-24, 20-25, 25-14). 

Weymouth moved to within two points of top spot in Division 2 South as they won their first two matches. 

On Saturday, the south coast side opened up with a straight sets triumph at London Baks (25-18, 25-19, 25-23) and then on Sunday they journeyed further east to defeat Kent Invicta, whose frustrating start continued (26-24, 25-23, 25-13). 

Elsewhere, London Lionhearts missed a chance to extend their advantage at the top as they suffered their first defeat – at Wessex (25-18, 25-17, 25-22), the latter having moved into second place as a result. 

Richmond Bucks bounced back from their first game defeat to beat Exeter Storm in four (25-18, 22-25, 25-17, 25-22). 

Tamworth Spartans are enjoying life at Division 2 Central level and made it three wins from three by getting the better of Spelthorne Future Stars (25-23, 25-19, 17-25, 25-19). 

Newmarket are not that far behind them, having won their second game by taking firm control of a fifth set decider (25-22, 25-15, 23-25, 16-25, 15-5) after letting a two-set lead slip against Reading Aces. 

Birmingham City notched their maiden success of the season after they saw off a Leicester side (25-22, 26-24, 25-20) who are still searching for their first points. 

It was a busy week in Division 2 North, with five games contested. 

Loughborough Students, who were in the promotion mix in Division 2 Central last season, started their campaign in fine style with back-to-back victories, defeating Sheffield Springers (23-25, 25-22, 25-22, 25-21) and Manchester Liberators (25-19, 25-21, 25-17). 

But they still trail Leeds Gorse 2, who have played two games more and made it four wins from four by seeing off Nottingham Rockets (25-19, 25-22, 25-23) and Stockport (25-19, 25-11, 25-9). 

The other winners were Everton Dugongs, who opened up their season by prevailing 3-1 at Intervolley Manchester (24-26, 25-23, 25-17, 25-18). 

All nine teams were in action Division 3 Central, where Norwich Spikers extended their unbeaten start to six matches with straight sets wins over Nuneaton Inferno and Tamworth Spartans 2, while the former defeated team beat the latter in three in the third match. 

It was also a good weekend for Coventry and Warwick Riga 2, who beat Cambridge 2 3-2 and Darkstar Derbyshire 2 3-2 to go second. Cambridge 2 clinched the third match 3-1. 

Rhinos Cambridge were also double victors, edging out Black Country 2 3-1 and GNG Bedford 3-2. Bedford sealed the third match in the triangular 3-1. 

Three teams are level on eight points at the top of Division 3 North, but Manchester Marvels Marauders have the clear advantage after defeating Liverpool (3-1) and Manchester Moss Side Jaguars (3-2), with the latter winning a hard-fought third triangular 3-1. 

Newcastle Staffs 2 also won both their fixtures but were made to work hard for it, edging out Harrogate and Hull Thunder 3-2, with the Humberside club winning the third match 3-0. 

London Brazukas Infinity were another to play 10 sets in a triangular, but came up trumps against Newmarket 2 and Chelmsford in Division 3 South East to make it four successes from four. Chelmsford eased to a 3-0 victory in the other game. 

Red Eagles Luton played Guildford International for the second time in a matter of weeks in a one-off fixture – with exactly the same 3-1 margin of victory coming their way. 

Cardiff Panthers head up Division 3 South West with two more victories, taking their tally to four, as Southampton 2 (3-2) and Worthing (3-0) were the beaten sides. 

Bristol 2 also flexed their muscles in their opening two games, beating both Weymouth 2 and Bedminster 3-0, with the south coast club winning the other encounter in straight sets. 

Women's NVL 

Onyx London missed the opportunity to go top of Division 1 South as they suffered a first defeat of the campaign to capital rivals Richmond. 

Those in blue took control by winning the opening two sets and though they dropped the third, they regathered themselves to run out 25-21, 25-18, 22-25, 25-19 victors at the Kingston College Arena. 

Team South Wales are, instead, top of the pile after making it two wins on the trot by seeing off London Inter Crocs in straight sets (25-18, 25-0, 25-0). 

The Londoners' misery was compounded as they also lost 3-2 to Reading Aces on their travels (25-22, 9-25, 25-20, 14-25, 15-13). 

Cambridge ARU have jumped to the summit of Division 1 North after overcoming Manchester Moss Side Jaguars in comfortable fashion (25-13, 25-13, 25-15).

Their second consecutive win gives them a two-point lead over Northampton. 

The clash between Loughborough Students and East Midlands rivals Darkstar Derbyshire was keenly fought before the hosts eventually secured a five-set victory (24-26, 27-25, 12-25, 25-22, 15-9), hitting back from 2-1 down in sets. 

Bedminster are the early pacesetters in Division 2 Central and have already accrued an eight-point lead, going 4-0 after their weekend successes at MK City (17-25, 28-26, 25-15, 25-18) and Tamworth Spartans (25-13, 25-14, 25-19). 

Leicester Athena Nova's first game following promotion ended in triumph as they defeated Bristol (25-17, 25-21, 25-18). 

Manchester Liberators continued their bright start to the season and moved closer to Newcastle Staffs at the top of Division 2 North by beating York Falcons 3-1 (25-14, 14-25, 26-24, 25-21). 

Stockport are not far behind them after also going 2-0 by defeating The Miners Doncaster 3-1 (25-23, 25-18, 18-25, 25-23). 

London Ravens are leading the way in Division 2 South with three wins and a 100% record to their name after double success over Richmond 2 (25-17, 24-26, 25-16, 25-16) and Herts (25-21, 25-22, 25-21). 

Also victorious over the weekend were Ashcombe Dorking, who inflicted a third straight defeat upon Sussex Dolphins (25-16, 22-25, 25-12, 25-19). 

It's extremely tight at the top of Division 3 South West, where just two points separate four teams who have won three and lost once each. 

Heading that list are Portsmouth after a 3-1 win over Weymouth and 3-0 defeat of City of Bristol. Weymouth won the other match in the triangular by a 3-1 margin. 

Southampton 2 are not far behind after notching a 3-1 success over Bedminster 2 and a 3-2 triumph over Cheltenham and Gloucester, with Bemi twice hitting back from a set down to win 17-15 in the third encounter. 

In Division 3 Central, Loughborough Students 2 moved top of the pile with consecutive victories over Nottingham Rockets and Nuneaton Flames, both in straight sets. Flames won their first match since joining the NVL by edging out the Rockets in five. 

Newcastle Staffs were 3-1 victors over Leeds Gorse 3 in Division 3 North but lost 3-0 to Darkstar Derbyshire 2, while Chester Amazons clinched some close sets to get the better of Ashfield Vipers. 

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