U16 Last 8 review - Finalists spread between north and sound amid strong competition

Malory Eagles and Leeds Gorse (girls) and Richmond A and Urmston Grammar (boys) can now look forward to battling it out at the showpiece occasion on Saturday 26th and Saturday 27th April. 

That is after the quarter successfully navigated both the Pool stages and knockout semi-finals across four matches during a busy day in Northamptonshire. 

Malory were unbeaten winners of Pool B and did not lose a set in the process of securing victory in all three matches, with only one teams (Richmond B) even getting within five points of them. 

Runners-up to go through to the semi-finals were Richmond A, who were too strong for their club-mates and also Urmston Grammar A, defeating both in straight sets. 

The closest match proved to be the first one in the pool and it ended up deciding third and fourth placings, with Urmston edging a final set decider 15-13. 

Pool A’s winners, Leeds Gorse, also secured an unbeaten record, but matches were more closely contested. 

The West Yorkshire were required to dig deep and needed three sets to beat both South Hants and South Bucks. 

All three of South Hants’ matches went to three sets, but they came out on the right end in two of them against Bucks and The Boswells School – the latter 18-16 in the third – to edge through to the semi-finals. 

Bucks, who tenacity and strong defensive capabilities were evident throughout beat Boswells in straight sets to win the battle for third and fourth. 

The crossover semi-finals saw Malory carry on where they had left off in the pool stages by easing to 25-13, 25-17 success over South Hants. 

Despite their eventual defeat, the South Coast side could be proud of the efforts across the day after pulling off some excellent pool victories. 

The second semi-final proved to be a tense encounter and the last match of the day to finish. 

It was the battle of last season’s U15 champions, Leeds, and serial junior title winners Richmond and intense game saw the teams exchange the first two sets. 

But it was then that Gorse stepped up a gear and took control, speeding to victory in the time break to emerge 25-19, 21-25, 15-7 victors. 

In the boys’ competition, defending champions from last season’s U15 competition and number one seeds Urmston Grammar started off with a straight sets success over Richmond B. 

They continued to find their groove to then beat The Boswells School convincingly and also beat a talented MK City side to secure a 100% record. 

After losing their opener, Richmond B recovered well to win their other two games but they were tight – going to three on each occasion in order to do it. 

Although both missing out on the semi-finals, Boswells and MK could both take plenty of positives from their performances with the former only losing 16-14 to Richmond B in a decider and the latter taking two sets and showing hallmarks of promise for the future. 

It was Boswells who won the battle between those two sides as they fought back from dropping the first set to win the tie final set at a canter. 

Pool B’s victors were Richmond A, who were a cut above all their opponents in securing three straight sets victories. 

Behind them Bristol and Leeds Gorse both defeated fourth-placed Newcastle Staffs to ensure that the final match of the pool would decide who went through to the semis as a runner-up. 

A high-octane clash ensued, and was the only one of the pool to go to three sets, before the West Country side eventually prevailed (25-27, 19-25, 15-11). 

The semi-finals proved to be relatively clear cut, as Richmond A became the first U16 team to book their Cup Finals spot with a solid victory over their club-mates Richmond B, coming out on top 25-21, 25-16. 

Urmston were also always in the ascendency and ensured there was to be no upset, defeating Bristol 25-20, 25-19. 

Next week, it’s the turn of the U18 to play their Last 8 competition (Saturday 15th March), with the U15 event to be held on 22nd March, both at the NVC.  

View all the Last 8 results on the Junior Competitions page by clicking here.

Images by Richard Beales. A full set of images will be posted on Flickr later this week.