Last 64 National Shield review  - 27th and 28th September

No less than five sides not currently playing in the National League demonstrated their credentials with impressive victories in the men’s draw. 

BDS Gurdwara Birmingham stormed to a 3-0 victory over fellow West Midlanders and Division 3 Central side Nuneaton Flames (25-14, 25-13, 25-17). 

In Hertfordshire, Watford chalked up an impressive straight sets success over Division 3 South West’s Tendring (25-22, 25-15, 25-20), while Red Eagles Luton also beat Division 3 South East's Essex Estonians in three (25-23, 25-15, 25-20). 

There were also four-set triumphs for Brazukas (25-20, 24-26, 25-17, 25-21), on the road at Division 2 Central's MK City, and Frodsham Flames, who were victorious against Division 3 North Urmston Grammar (25-22, 19-25, 25-19, 25-13). 

Two all non-NVL ties produced contrasting lengths of matches, with Newcastle Panthers getting the better of the University of Leeds (25-16, 20-25, 19-25, 25-21, 17-15), while, at the other end of the scale, Legends – with England internationals Ben Lucas and Chester Searle among their number – saw off Isle of Man Falcons 25-18, 25-16, 25-14 relatively comfortably. 

Other non-NVL teams pushed their opponents close but were ultimately unsuccessful, including Tonbridge, who were edged out 3-2 by NVL Division 3 South East newcomers Newmarket 2 (22-25, 25-19, 20-25, 25-16, 15-9) and Chelmsford, who were on the wrong end of the five sets at Division3 South East's Worthing (23-25, 26-24, 25-20, 20-25, 15-12). 

There were straight sets wins for Division 2 North Hull Thunder against Garstang Natives (25-14, 25-12, 25-19), Division 3 South East's GNG Bedford over Portsmouth Phoenix (25-22, 25-19, 26-24) and Men's Division 2 Central Cambridge at East Grinstead Kings (25-15, 25-21, 25-23). 

Also claiming 3-0 victories were Division 3 North NVL newcomers Manchester Liberators against Marske (25-13, 25-14, 25-14), Division 3 South West Weymouth over Portsmouth United (25-16, 25-18, 25-13) and Division 2 Central Darkstar Derbyshire in a hard-fought match against West Park Miners (25-18, 26-24, 25-23). 

Division 2 North's Everton Dugongs beat Leeds Volleyball Academy 3-1 (25-12, 22-25, 25-21, 26-24), while in an all-NVL Division 3 South West clash, Bristol 2 beat league newcomers Team South Wales 3-1 (25-22, 22-25, 26-24, 28-26). 

In the women’s section, it could not have been much closer on set scores between University of Leeds and Urmston Grammar, with the hosts just keeping their noses in front each time to sneak through 27-25, 25-23, 28-26. 

 the University of Bristol beat Division 3 South East side Spelthorne Sharks 3-0 away from home (25-19, 25-20, 25-16) in a real show of strength. 

Winchester Eagles, however, lost 3-1 at Division 3 South West Bedminster 2, who were sporting a new-look kit and whose first team reached the final last season. 

Division 2 West's Coventry and Warwick Riga extinguished the threat of near-neighbours Nuneaton Flames, prevailing 25-13, 25-16, 25-18, while Division 2 East's Cambridge were emphatic 3-0 victors at East Grinstead Queens (25-10, 25-12, 25-6). 

Elsewhere, newly-promoted Division 2 North side Manchester Liberators were made to work extremely hard to overcome Leeds Gorse in Yorkshire, being taken to the full five sets. 

After being pegged back from 2-0 down, they eventually prevailed in the tie break set to come through 25-21, 25-21, 25-27, 15-25, 15-9. 

That was not the only match to go the full five sets, with Division 3 South West NVL newcomers Farnborough Phoenix winning at Bristol 2 - a team they will play in league action this season - in an entertaining encounter (25-23, 21-25, 25-16, 23-25, 15-11) and Division 3 Central Cambridge Rhinos holding their nerve to beat Division 2 East's Worthing (25-22, 25-13, 22-25, 23-25, 15-10). 

In the West Midlands, Division 2 West rivals Wombourne and Black Country wnent toe to toe before the former ran out winners (25-10, 15-25, 25-20, 22-25, 15-11), while, in Liverpool, Division 3 North newcomers Everton Seadragons were edged out by Division 2 North Sheffield in a tense decider (18-25, 25-19, 25-21, 22-25, 15-13). 

Images by Liam Jefferies, Alan Doggett and Matt Halfpenny 

To view the National Shield results in full, click here.