NVL preview (11th and 12th October) - Polonia men and Giants women look to kickstart promotion bids

Men’s NVL 

Among the men’s teams to get their 25-26 season up and running will be IBB Polonia, who were relegated from the DYNAMIK Men’s Super League. 

They have lost players who have moved clubs in order to continue playing in the top flight but will nevertheless hope for an immediate return, with a Saturday Division 1 home clash against a Bristol side, who finished third at this level last season their first test. 

Also in action are first game winners London Aces, who host Exeter Storm, while, on Sunday, Southampton make their entrance following promotion as they entertain an Essex Blaze side who started two divisions higher than them, in Super League, 12 months ago. 

Another side with aspirations of promotion, Newcastle Staffs begin their Division 1 North season by hosting newly-promoted Cambridge Rhinos. 

West Midlands rivals Black Country will hope to build on their opening victory with another success as they make the short trip to Coventry and Warwick Riga, who lost in their first match. 

Their conquerors, Manchester Marvels are again in action on Sunday when they welcome neighbours Stockport to the Dean Trust Academy. 

Tamworth Spartans get their season underway, too, as they host Sheffield. 

There’s a Leicestershire derby in Division 2 Central as Leicester take on Loughborough Students at the Limehurst Academy. 

It is one of four games in the division, all on Saturday, with first-week winners Newmarket involved in another derby as they make the short trip across the Suffolk border to face Cambridge. 

Oxford Bulls, so impressive in gaining promotion from Division 3 with a 100% record will have their first test at the new level at MK City, while Norwich Spikers host Northampton. 

In Division 2 North, Hull Thunder, victorious last week in their opener, travel along the M62 to face Leeds Gorse 2. 

Fellow first round winners Lincoln Cannons are also back in action as Darkstar Derbyshire – one of only two teams in the division yet to play a game – are the visitors. 

The other in that category, Newcastle Staffs begin with a home game against Sheffield Springers while fellow newbies, Everton Dugongs and Nottingham Rockets, go head to head on Merseyside. 

Seven of the eight Division 2 South teams are in action, with Cardiff Panthers (at Wiltshire Mavericks) and Kent Invicta, who came up last season and meet Reading Aces, being the only ones yet to get underway. 

The Aces will have also, by then, played on Saturday at Spelthorne Sharks, while London Baks go to Dartford Crossers. 

In Division 3 South West, one triangular will match up Guildford International, Southampton 2 and Team South Wales at Ashcombe School.  

It’s a similar story in Division 3 South East where Worthing High School will stage a triangular between Worthing, London Wildcats and, playing their first NVL games, Newmarket 2. 

West Midlands pride is at stake in Division 3 Central with Black Country 2, Tamworth Spartans 2 and Birmingham City doing battle at Redhill Sports Hall. 

In North Yorkshire, Harrogate, newcomers Hull Thunder 2 and Urmston Grammar will contest their first games in the season at the Rossett Sports Centre. 

Women’s NVL 

The team defeated in the play-off for a place in the MAAREE Women’s Super League, London Giants will hope to go one better this season, and will bid to get their Division 1 South campaign off to a flying start on Sunday in a London derby at Inter Orcas. 

The division’s other fixture pairs newly-promoted Bedminster with Essex Trinity, who got off a winning start last weekend. 

After meeting last week, University of Nottingham and Cambridge, both relegated from the top flight last season go again. 

The Green and Golds, who won that encounter 3-0, host Northampton, while Cambridge visit Loughborough Students who are playing their first match. 

All eight teams get a run-out in Division 2 North, with six of them making their seasonal bows. 

One of the two teams who have already competed, Lincoln Cannons, have the chance to establish an early lead at the top of the table as they take on Manchester Liberators at home. 

Leeds Gorse 2, meanwhile, will look to bounce back from defeat to the Cannons when Manchester Moss Side Jaguars come to the Ruth Gorse Academy. 

Elsewhere, Newcastle Staffs and Everton Narwhals will hope to take advantage of home games against The Miners, Doncaster and Sheffield respectively. 

Like the men, West Midlands rivals Coventry and Warwick Riga and Black Country face off in Division 2 West, while Southampton host Oxford Eagles and Tamworth Spartans meet Cardiff Falcons. 

Division 2 East brings just two matches with Dartford Chargers (at Sussex Dolphins) and Herts (at Onyx) both looking to catch teams cold who have yet to get underway and make it two wins from two. 

The Isle of Man Falcons travel over to the English mainland to fight for the points in Division 3 North against hosts Urmston Grammar and Leeds Gorse 3. 

Division 3 Central will pit Ashfield Vipers, Darkstar Derbyshire 2 and MK City together in a Sunday triangular. 

There is a clash of Ravens as Essex meet London in Division 3 South East, with Ashcombe Dorking the third team in the triangular at St John Payne School, while there are no matches in Division 3 South West.