NVL Preview 10th and 11th February

After a 3-0 loss to Essex Blaze last week, Weymouth Beach are looking to rekindle their form after three consecutive losses.   

The South Coast club started the season strongly, challenging for a play-off spot, but defeats in back-to-back matches against Black Country and table toppers Essex have seen them drop down to fifth. 

However, Weymouth can put themselves back in the mix if they are able to beat rivals London Aces, who are one place above them in fourth. 

The Aces have shot up the table after being unbeaten in five matches, their last defeat coming against Weymouth back in October, and will be keen to keep up their momentum as the season reaches its business end. 

 Weymouth will be looking to repeat the success of their home match in October and finish the weekend just one point behind Black Country.  

Division 1 also sees matches between two more high-flyers London Giants and Essex Blaze, while Tamworth Spartans travel to Cambridge ARU. 

In the capital, the Giants are hoping for a big crowd at both their men’s and women’s matches with tickets on sale for just £2. 

All proceeds from this are going to the England Men’s Senior Team, who won the Novotel Cup for the first time in December.  

In Division 2 North, Harrogate travel south to Derby to take on Darkstar Derbyshire, who currently sit second in the league just two points behind Hull Thunder.  

With the Humberside club not in action this weekend, the hosts know a 3-0 victory will give them the top spot of the table until at least 2nd March.   

There are four games in Division 2 Central, with bottom-of-the-table MK City taking on Cambridge among them. 

With Cambridge currently fourth in the table, MK will be looking to cause an upset and relegate Dartford to bottom spot, given the Kent club are currently only two points ahead. 

Even if that scenario transpires, Dartford could be there for as little as 24 hours, with their game at London Baks to follow no Sunday.  

Leaders Hounslow and Newmarket are both at home and entertain Wombourne and second place Norwich Spikers respectively. 

Division 3 North West has two triangulars taking place with Liverpool U18, Manchester Moss Side and National Shield semi-finalists Wigan Seahawks all competing on Saturday.  

On Sunday, Chester, Manchester Marvels Mavericks and Intervolley Manchester head to the Ellesmere Port Academy for an afternoon of competition.  

Kings of Court Boston will look to extend their lead in Division 3 North Central as part of another triangular fixture against Leeds Gorse 2 and York Vikings.  

Nottingham Rockets also play host to two other teams on Sunday with Black Country 2 and Bradford Eagles making the trip to Vision West Notts College.  

In the Women’s competition, seven fixtures take place in Division 1 - and all of the top three are in action.  

Leaders Wessex host MK City and after a narrow 3-2 victory last weekend against Southampton.  

Stockport, in second, dropped points last week against Everton Belugas, but have the opportunity to bounce back and keep the pressure on Wessex if they prevail when they journey to London Intern Crocs (Saturday) and Dartford Chargers (Sunday).  

With one win in three, Southampton will be out to claim three valuable points at the weekend when they face MK. 

For their part, the Buckinghamshire club, with two games over the weekend, will eye the chance to lift themselves off the bottom.  

Bristol take on in-form Richmond on Sunday with the London club looking to make it six league wins in six. 

The Londoners won the home fixture, but will be hoping the journey along the M4 will not hinder their performance.  

The Inter Crocs have a busy weekend ahead, with a home game against Leicester Athena following their meeting with Stockport.  

In Division 2 North, Team Sunderland have two matches in two days with a home game against Everton Narwhals on Saturday and then a trip to Manchester Marvels Mystics on Sunday.  

They will look to continue their unbeaten run in Division 2 with eyes firmly on promotion.  

Manchester Marvels Mayhem take on the Narwhals on Sunday afternoon with the opportunity to go third in the league if results go their way.  

Tamworth Spartans, meanwhile, will host Leeds Gorse 2 knowing victory will keep the pressure on Sunderland at the top.  

After a strong start to the season, Herts are winless since 3rd December but will look to break that streak this weekend against Rhinos Cambridge.  

Coventry and Warwick Riga 2 will take on second place Essex Trinity on Saturday.  

As part of their double-header, London Giants host Ashcombe Dorking in Division 2 South, where they are looking to extend their unbeaten run to nine league matches. 

Ashcombe are winless all season and know it will be tough to crack their top-of-table opponents, but an upset would help Richmond 2 who are just one point behind the Giants, having played two more games.  

Three more triangulars will be contested in Division 3 Central over the weekend with Nottingham Rockets hosting Black Country 2 and Ashfield Vipers on Saturday.  

Sunday then sees Wombourne, Darkstar 2 and Black Country go head to head, as well as Lincoln Cannons, Newcastle Staffs and Leicester Athena 2 battle it out.  

Two victories for Staffs would see them finish the weekend on a maximum of 27 points, but with Darkstar 2 only two points behind them, they know they have to stay at the top of their game.  

The last games in Division 3 South West until mid-March have Plymouth UTV hosting Cheltenham and Gloucester and local rivals Plymouth Mayflower.  

All fixtures can be seen here 

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