18 Mar 2024
U15 Last 8 Review
After not dropping a set during the whole Grand Prix Series, Richmond A were pushed all the way by Wessex in the semi-final, with the London club eventually coming out on top to earn their place at the season finale on the weekend of 20th and 21st April.
They had been drawn as the top seed into a pool with Leeds Gorse, South Bucks and The Boswells School, knowing there was a lot of pressure to replicate the U18 boys and U18 girls and U16 girls in clinching a final spot.
Starting off strongly in their first match against Leeds, they sealed the match 2-0, which allowed them to build some momentum for their next match against South Bucks.
Another 2-0 victory saw them to claim a place in the semi-final but they wanted to go in as winners of the pool and a great second set in their match against Boswells allowed them to do just that.
Last four opponents Wessex had battled through the pool stages with two of their matches going to three sets.
After defeat to Urmston Grammar in their first match of the day, they built on success in a terrific match against Newcastle Staffs, which saw them claim a narrow 2-1 (25-12, 23-25, 15-13) victory.
They knew a win against Dartford would secure their place in the semi-final and they achieved just that with a 2-0 triumph.
Urmston did not have it easy making the semi-finals either, with two of their three games also going to three sets, but the team from Manchester were on the winning side of the tie each time to set up a semi-final against Leeds Gorse.
The resilient West Yorkshire reached the semi-final after playing well in the pool, stage, only losing to top-ranked Richmond.
In the first semi-final, a thriller saw Richmond take the first set, but Wessex battle back to snatch the second 25-19 and set up a deciding third.
Both sides fought hard to gain the advantage, but it was the Londoners who eventually prevailed 16-14.
Urmston and Leeds also pushed each other to the limit in their semi-final with their game having a thrilling first set which ended 30-28 in favour of the Yorkshire side.
But Urmston then got back into the game by taking the second 25-17 and carried that momentum into the third set where they were able to run out 15-10 victors.
Urmston will now face Richmond in the National Cup Final at the National Volleyball Centre in Kettering on 21st April.
Richmond had two teams in the Girls’ U15 Last 8, with Richmond B just edging out Wapping Wildcats to the final spot.
And despite their overall ranking of eighth going into Saturday’s matches, they played superbly to top their group.
Their first match against South Hants went to three sets and, after Richmond had taken the opening set, their opponents came back in the second to level (25-18).
However, Richmond dug in and held their nerve to take the decisive set 15-12.
The London side’s matches against Urmston and Boswells were easier in terms of set scores (both 2-0 victories) but still just as close with just a few points between the teams on each occasion.
Boswells went in as the fourth seed but were able to snatch a semi-final spot from South Hants in the final game of the pool stages.
Hants started well, taking the first 25-17 but Boswells were not going down without a fight and clinched the second set 25-12.
That dominant scoreline seemed to put extra fire in their bellies as they rounded out the match 15-8 to secure a semi-final berth.
Having seen their teammates succeed in Pool A, Richmond A were determined to match those achievements in Pool B, where they faced Newcastle Staffs, South Bucks and Leeds Gorse.
It turned out they experienced a very similar route to the semi-finals as their club-mates, with a 2-1 win in their first match against Leeds Gorse, where they came through 15-8 in the final set.
Straight sets victories then followed against South Bucks and Newcastle Staffs to ensure a 100 per cent record in the pool.
Leeds, meanwhile, knew a victory against South Bucks in their final pool match would see them into the semi-final as runners-up they used this to fuel a convincing 2-0 (25-13, 25-16) success.
Both Staffs and Bucks put on a strong contest in the pool stages and showcased their development through out the season.
The semi-final between Richmond B and Leeds went all the way after a great fightback from the capital team saw them rally to win the second set 25-20 after losing the first.
The decider had everyone on the edge of their seat with barely one point between both teams all the way up until a vital timeout called by Gorse with the score 11-10 in their favour.
It seemed to galvanise those in purple, as the Yorkshire club powered to a 15-12 triumph which sparked huge celebration and some tears from their team.
Despite the loss, Richmond B had outperformed their eighth-place ranking and done themselves proud.
The second semi-final was far more straightforward, with Richmond A booking their final spot against Leeds after an excellent performance against Boswells saw them ease to a 2-0 (25-13, 25-6) victory.
Richmond continue to show the strength of their junior programme with teams in all but one of the Junior National Cup Finals.
That said, the growth in competition is growing across the country, with, Boswells (three), Leeds (two), Urmston (one) and Staffs (one) all making it to a final as well.
You can find out more about the National Cup Finals here.
To purchase tickets for the finals click here.
All the results of the weekend can be found here
