NVL Review 20th and 21st January

Playing their first matches since 9th December, the London side showed no signs of rustiness as they underlined their position as genuine challengers at the top of the table.  

Richmond burst out the gates against Wessex on Saturday, winning with the first set comfortably, 25-15 victory.  

The South Coast club did put up more of a fight in the remaining sets, but the speed and strength of Richmond saw them prevail to 25-19, 25-18 to clinch the match in straight sets. 

It was double trouble for Southampton after missing out in a nail-biting five setter against MK City on Saturday as they travelled to Richmond on Sunday.  

The Hampshire side gave their all, but the-inform home side proved too strong and took the match 3-0 (25-18, 25-19, 25-22). 

With MK City building on last week's first win of the season, they are now only three points behind London Inter Crocs (eighth) and Southampton (ninth) after coming back from two sets down to win 22-25, 22-25, 25-14, 25-23, 15-12. 

They will be hoping they continue to make a big impact in 2024 and put a disappointing first half of the season behind them and will next face table toppers Wessex on 10th February. 

There were also Division 1 wins for Everton Belugas and Stockport with the latter continuing to put pressure on Wessex and sitting only one point behind them.  

The top two teams will not face each other until the last week of the regular season on 6th April, so, although there is still a long way to go, it could be all to play for on the final day. 

Two five-set thrillers took place on Sunday in Division 2 North, with Tamworth Spartans going all the way against Urmston Grammar and Everton Narwhals and Manchester Marvels Mayhem also going the distance. 

Tamworth took the initiative in the first set of their match but were then pegged back in the second. 

The game was non-stop and after sharing the next two sets, it was Spartans who were able to hold their nerve in the decider, winning it 15-10. 

The result puts the West Midlanders into second, one point ahead of Sheffield but having played two more games.  

Mayhem closed the gap to Narwhals with a 3-2 victory as the teams took sets off each other alternatively. 

The tie-break decider could not have been closer and with Mayhem edging it 16-14, they are now just one point behind the Merseyside team with two games in hand.  

In Division 2 Central, Northampton cruised to a 3-0 victory over Herts. After a strong start, Herts have now only one win from their last three.  

Oxford Eagles were able to capitalise on that loss with a 3-0 victory of their own against Coventry and Warwick Riga 2.  

It moved them to the top of the table, but Essex Trinity are hot on their heels, being only two points behind them with two games in hand.  

After a midweek loss to London Giants in Division 2 South, Richmond 2 bounced back with a 3-0 victory over Bristol 2, replicating the success of their Division 1 counterparts.  

It was not all bad for Bristol 2 over the weekend, though, as they were victorious in a mammoth match against Ashcombe Dorking, coming from 2-1 down to record a 3-2 success (22-25, 25- 17, 23-25, 25-17, 15-10). 

Miners Doncaster continued their 100 per cent record by making it 30 points from a possible 30 in Division 3 North by beating Leeds Gorse 3 3-0 to extend their lead at the top to nine points.

Trying to keep pace with Doncaster are second place Hull Thunder and they would have been happy with a 3-0 victory over eighth place Liverpool and another straight sets triumph over Chester Amazons.  

Cheltenham and Gloucester claimed two wins at the weekend in Division 3 South West with success over City of Bristol and Plymouth UTV to move to the top of the pile in what looks as if it will be a tightly-contested title race. 

With so much exciting action in women's competition, the men’s divisions had a lot to live up to – and didn’t disappoint.  

The top of the table clash between Weymouth Beach and Black Country saw the West Midlands side take a 3-1 victory and, with it, second place in Division 1.  

Weymouth started strongly but after the first set went their way 25-18, the visitors took control to win the next three 25-18, 25-18, 25-23. 

Essex Blaze were not distracted by Black Country’s success with a comfortable 3-0 victory over Cambridge ARU too maintain top spot. 

The London Aces are also putting themselves in the mix at the top end of the table and now have a 7-2 record. 

But they were pushed all the way in their latest outing with Tamworth Spartans on Sunday, as all five sets saw only two points separate the sides. 

The Aces eventually came out on top 3-2 (23-25, 24-26, 25-23, 25-23, 13-15) but it was anything but easy for them against their seventh-placed opponents. 

It was a much simpler victory for London on Saturday as they visited a Coventry and Warwick Riga with only one league win to their name and ran out 3-0 victors. 

Everton Dugongs had a disappointing weekend with a 3-0 loss to Harrogate on Saturday and then a 3-1 loss to Hull Thunder on Sunday, leaving them winless since 14th October.  

Division 2 South saw Richmond Bucks secure a 3-0 win over Wiltshire Mavericks who are their current mid-table rivals, only one point ahead of them.  

Exeter Storm also came through in straight sets against Guildford International, which puts them only one point behind Division 2 South leaders, Bristol. 

Both teams have played seven matches and face each other on 2nd March for what could be a pivotal clash in the title race.  

Wildcats, Tendring and Northampton took part in a triangular fixture in Division 3 South East at the weekend with latter taking two wins from two and Wildcats just pipping Tendring to a 3-2 victory after fighting back from 2-0 down. 

Despite two losses, Tendring put up a good fight taking Wildcats all the way and snatching a second set from Northampton, who stay top with 10 wins from 11. 

Cover Photo: Liam Jefferies