NVL preview (4th and 5th Nov): Wessex v Richmond promises Bonfire night weekend fireworks

The Poole-based hosts (pictured above) have exploded into action at the start of this season and will put their 100 percent record on the line at Parkstone Grammar School on Saturday (12.45pm).

Visitors Richmond are level on points having played a game more and will be keen to leapfrog their opponents after victory over Bristol last time out.

Both teams will have further points to play for on Sunday as Weymouth entertain Leicester Athena and the Londoners travel along the south coast to face Southampton, who play Athena on Saturday.

Leaders Stockport will hope to maintain their advantage at the top as they host Bristol on Saturday, while Dartford Chargers welcome London Inter Crocs on Sunday.

There are three games in Division 2 North, all on Sunday, with the pick of these the top two battle between Sheffield (four wins) and Team Sunderland (three wins), who are both unbeaten in the league to date.

Elsewhere, Urmston Grammar travel down the M62 to take on Everton Narwhals, while Leeds Gorse 2 and Manchester Marvels Mystics meet in West Yorkshire bidding to record their respective first wins of the season.

Herts will bid to make it five wins from five in Division 2 Central as they journey to Rhinos, while second-placed Oxford Eagles welcome Norwich Spikers to the Ferry Leisure Centre.

Having only played – and won – one game so far, London Giants will be looking to make a move up the Division 2 South table with two games over the weekend.

First, they visit Ashcombe Dorking and then they follow it up with a home clash against Bristol 2.

The division’s other match sees second-placed Cardiff Falcons host Sussex Dolphins.

A triangular series of matches in Division 3 North sees Manchester Liberators – who have won all four of their league games so far and are second in the table on set difference only – take on Manchester Marvels Magic and Manchester Moss Side Jaguars.

With table toppers The Miners Doncaster not in action, The Liberators – unbeaten so far this 2023-24 league season – will go above their rivals with favourable results from the matches played at Fairfield High School.

Another triangular match-up, on Saturday, will take place in the Midlands, where Division 3 Central teams Nottingham Rockets, Wombourne and Darkstar meet, the latter looking to build on wins in their opening two matches.

On Sunday, Newcastle Staffs and Lincoln Cannons will meet for their respective first league matches on the season.

As Division 3 South East leaders Onyx rest up, third-placed Cambridge will be out to take advantage as they play both Essex Etonians and Dartford Warriors, who will also meet.

Another three teams to play to play each other are Tendring, Richmond 3 and Spelthorne Sharks.

Division 3 South West sees three matches played on the same day at the same venue, with Portsmouth, Plymouth Mayflower and City of Bristol doing battle at the Priory Community Sports Centre.

In the men’s competition, Essex Blaze and Weymouth Beach will look to protect their unbeaten records in Division One as they respectively host Coventry and Warwick Riga and Cambridge.

The division’s other fixtures to be completed over the weekend will see two London v West Midlands contests as London Aces take on Black Country and London Giants go head to head with Tamworth Spartans.

Pic by Nathaniel Macrae Photography

An intriguing first versus second clash, sees Darkstar (pictured above) making the short trip to Sheffield, headlines the Division 2 North fixtures, with Loughborough Students facing two away trips in as many days to Lincoln Cannons and Hull Thunder.

Everton Dugongs meet Harrogate in the other fixture.

Three matches are scheduled for Division 2 Central, with leaders Cambridge heading just down the road to face Newmarket and second placed Norwich hosting MK City.

Wombourne and London Baks will meet at the Dudley Evolve.

Unbeaten Exeter Storm will look to make up ground on five-wins-from-five Bristol at the top of Division 2 South when they visit.

Wiltshire Mavericks will host City of Bristol while Guildford International and Richmond Bucks play at the Ashcombe Volleyball Centre.

A trio of matches will pit unbeaten Division 3 North West leaders Chester against Newcastle Staffs 2 and Manchester Marvels Marauders.

Alongside those games, second-placed Manchester Moss Side will hope to keep up the pressure in taking on both Urmston Grammar and Wigan Seahawks.

York Vikings, Bradford Eagles and Coventry and Warwick Riga 2 contest games with one another in Division 3 North Central on Saturday before Sheffield 2 and Wombourne 2 meet on Sunday.

Another triangular series takes place in Division 3 South East where Tendring, GNG Bedford and Invicta do battle as they bid to make up ground on leaders Northampton.

In Division 3 South West, early leaders Southampton will have the chance to improve on their two wins from two as they host Urbond and Cardiff Panthers, who will also face each other in a third match.

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