NVL review (25th and 26th November)

The West Midlands side have already shown their ability to raise their game this 2023-2024 season when they knocked Newcastle Staffs out of the National Cup and they were at it again as they edged out their hosts 15-11 in the final set. 

Having raced into a two-set lead (25-20, 25-17), the visitors were pegged back to 2-2 by a strong Blaze fightback in the third and fourth sets (26-24, 25-12). 

But Black Country were not to be denied and boosted their own hopes of a top two finish by taking the decider. 

The previous day, Essex had secured a sixth win of the season as they beat Tamworth Spartans in straight sets (25-15, 25-21, 25-14), which means they maintain leadership of the division. 

Black Country, meanwhile, had been beaten in another five-set match, going down 25-19, 25-19, 23-25, 16-25, 15-13 in the tightest of encounters with Cambridge ARU. 

Weymouth Beach could now overhaul Essex at the top if they win their game in hand following the South Coast club’s 3-0 (25-11, 25-17, 25-20) victory over Coventry and Warwick Riga, which means they are now the division’s only unbeaten side. 

Elsewhere, London Aces strengthened their position in fourth place as they held the edge over Manchester Marvels (25-18, 25-20, 25-22). 

The North West club were also in action on their trip to the capital against London Giants but were again edged out 25-19, 25-17, 25-20. 

The competition for the top places in Division 2 North is really hotting up, with the five teams who have lost two matches all believing they will have a shot at the title. 

Leaders Darkstar Derbyshire hung on to top spot despite a surprise 3-2 (25-19, 22-25, 22-25, 25-20, 15-13) loss at Liverpool, who recorded their own first success of the season in hitting back from 2-1 down in sets. 

Hull Thunder were 3-1 victors (25-20, 25-21, 23-25, 25-17) over Sheffield to leapfrog above them, while Lincoln Cannons moved up to second with a comfortable 3-0 win (25-11, 25-20, 25-20) at bottom side Everton Dugongs. 

In Division 2 Central, also tightly-contested, London Baks (pictured above) are now heading the pack after their 3-0 triumph (25-14, 25-18, 25-15) over winless MK City, while Hounslow went fourth with a game in hand after their 3-1 win (20-25, 25-22, 25-23, 25-18) at home to Newmarket. 

Exeter Storm maintained their 100% record and kept up the pressure on also-unbeaten Bristol in Division 2 South with a 3-0 victory (25-14, 25-15, 25-14) on the road at City of Bristol. 

Spelthorne Lions stay third after they won a keenly-contested game at Richmond Bucks 3-1, bouncing back from losing the first set 25-11 to take the next three 25-18, 25-23, 25-22. 

Wessex clinched their second league win of the season as they were 3-0 victors (25-18, 25-17, 25-17) at Guildford International. 

There was just one match in Division 3 North Central, where the Nottingham Rockets were 3-1 winners at Black Country 2, who had lost only once prior to this match. 

In Women’s Division 1, Wessex went marching on at the top of the table by recording their seventh straight victory, this time 3-1, over Everton Belugas. 

The visitors from Liverpool started well, taking the first set 25-23, but they were unable to keep it going and the hosts stormed back to win the next three sets 25-16, 25-22, 25-22). 

The Belugas also took on Southampton as they journeyed south and won 3-0 (28-26, 25-20, 25-17). 

MK City have still yet to get off the mark in the league this season, but they came mighty close against Bristol, losing in five sets. 

After dropping the first set 25-16, the Buckinghamshire side looked well set after winning the next two 25-23, 25-20. 

However, Bristol were not finished and eventually prevailed after taking the fourth 25-19 and then the decider 15-12. 

There was another five-setter played out between Leicester Athena (pictured above) and Dartford Chargers, which saw the hosts just have the edge (25-20, 22-25, 25-27, 25-12, 15-7). 

Stockport stayed in second place after a walkover win against Richmond. 

In Division 2 North, Tamworth Spartans came out on top 3-0 (25-15, 25-16, 25-19) as they visited Urmston Grammar. 

Essex Trinity maintained their Division 2 Central promotion push with a 3-0 success over Northampton, winning 25-17, 25-18, 25-15. 

A great weekend for Richmond 2 saw them stay unbeaten after recording consecutive victories to go second in the table. 

They were 3-1 victors at Ashcombe and Dorking on Saturday and then hosted Cardiff Falcons and ran out straight sets victors (25-22, 25-22, 25-19) on the Sunday. 

Team South Wales, however, still lead the way after they defeated Sussex Dolphins 3-0 (25-17, 25-13, 25-21). 

It was an extremely busy and eventful weekend in Division 3 North where the new leaders are The Miners’ Doncaster after they won the battle of the previously unbeaten teams with Manchester Liberators and York Falcons in a triangular fixture on Saturday. 

The South Yorkshire side were 3-1 victors (25-14, 22-25, 25-22, 26-24) over the Liberators and also 3-1 (19-25, 25-15, 25-19, 25-23) winners over the Falcons, who inflicted another defeat on the Manchester side, 3-0 (25-19, 25-21, 25-19). 

Two more triangulars took place on Sunday, with Manchester Moss Side Jaguars enjoying the best of the first of them, edging out Chester Amazons 3-1 (29-27, 25-20, 22-25, 25-19) and beating Leeds Gorse 3-0 (25-12, 25-15, 25-9). 

Chester beat Leeds 3-0 (25-23, 25-20, 25-18) in the other match and now have a 3-3 record. 

Elsewhere, Hull Thunder moved up to fourth after wins over Liverpool (25-16, 25-11, 25-19) and Manchester Marvels Magic (25-11, 25-21, 17-22, 25-22), with Liverpool beating the Magic 3-1 in the other contest. 

Black Country put forward a statement of intent in their first two matches of the season in Division 3 Central, beating club-mates Black Country 2 in straight sets (25-16, 25-14, 25-12) and also Newcastle Staffs by the same overall score (25-20, 25-15,25-18), which was a first league defeat for the latter. 

Darkstar Derbyhire 2 retained their position as unbeaten league leaders with a sixth win on the spin, this time a 3-1 triumph (25-18, 19-25, 25-14, 25-20) at Ashfield Vipers. 

In Division 3 South East, Sussex Dolphins 2 were delighted to get their first win of the season, 3-1 (22-25, 25-11, 25-20, 25-20) at Richmond 3. 

Cambridge kept up their pursuit of top spot with a 3-0 victory (25-16, 25-15, 25-10) over the Dolphins, while Tendring were 3-0 winners (25-20, 25-22, 25-18) over Essex Etonians. 

A triangular fixture in Division 3 South West saw Southampton move to the head of the table after seeing off the challenges of Plymouth UTV 3-1 (27-25, 25-18, 15-25, 29-27) and Plymouth 3-0 (25-18,25-23, 25-16). 

The battle of the Plymouths saw Unity emerge 3-1 victors (25-17, 18-25, 28-26, 26-24) from a tight tussle. 

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To view all the weekend's NVL results in full, click here. 

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