20 Mar 2024
U15 Junior Grand Prix: VBDC and Lynx win Gold Cups
While the top eight-ranked teams in the girls’ and boys’ competitions contested the Last 8 for the right to play at Cup Finals Weekend 2024 on 20th and 21st April, the other teams just behind them enjoyed their own season finales.
In the girls’ competition, the Gold Cup saw the highest-ranked side Wapping Wildcats overame Richmond C 2-0 (25-21, 25-19) and second-ranked Wessex prove too strong for Hull Thunder, also winning in straight sets (25-8, 25-11).
Third-ranked Ashfield Vipers saw off Sevenoaks School (25-11, 25-21), while VBDC, ranked fifth, beat fourth-ranked Wirral 25-15, 25-13.
In the semi-finals, Wapping went is as favourites against VBDC but had their spirits broken by losing the first set 26-24 and were left well beaten, 25-11, in the second.
The other last four match was closer, before Essex emerged as 17-15 winners in the third after the sides had each won an earlier set.
The final was also keenly-contested and saw Wessex draw first blood by taking the opener 25-22.
But VBDC fought back superbly to level by taking the second set 25-14 and then clinched the tie breaker 15-12.
In the match for third and fourth place, another comeback win saw Wapping overturn a first set deficit to win the next two (23-25, 25-9, 15-9). Erica, for Wapping battled through an injury to help her team claim the bronze medal.
The Silver Cup saw two teams fight it out – Deep Dish Crystal Palace and Ashcombe – and it produced a terrific battle.
The London club edged a titanic first set 26-24 to seemingly have the edge, but their Surrey opponents bounced back into the second to take it 25-18 and set up a decider.
That decider saw Deed Dish regain the initiative and come through to win 15-8.
In the boys’ competition, the Gold Cup was played at South Hants, where London Lynx topped the group of four with three wins from three.
After opening up with a comfortable win over Cardiff Celts (25-13, 25-9), they next faced Richmond B and again through in straight sets (25-12, 25-15).
Their toughest test by far came against South Hants, who had also won their first two games to set up a table-topping decider.
The host club nicked the first set 25-23 before the Londoners hit back to win the second 25-22 and take it to three.
There, things could hardly have been closer before Lynx edged to a 17-15 triumph to spark the celebrations.
Hants were forced to settle for second after they had earlier beaten Richmond 15-12 in a decider and Cardiff Celts in straight sets.
Richmond then defeated Cardiff Celts 25-17, 25-21 to decide the third and fourth place spots.
Three teams battled it out in the Silver Cup where an initial pool decided who would make it straight through to the final and who would have to play-off to face them.
Preston Panthers were winners of both pool games against MK City (25-15, 25-21) and Leeds Gorse Purple (25-17, 25-16) to book a final spot.
The West Yorkshire side finished second in the group after beating MK 30-28, 25-19 and repeated the trick in the bronze medal match (25-23, 25-21) to secure a meeting with Panthers to decide the trophy winners.
Having played a game less, Preston used that advantage to triumph 25-17, 25-22 and seal overall victory.
