NVL review (8th and 9th November) - Cambridge, Marvels make men’s move  

Men’s NVL 

Cambridge have lifted themselves up to the Division 1 South summit after inflicting a first defeat of the season on Essex Blaze. 

They moved to a 3-1 record by bouncing back from dropping the first set to reel off the next three to triumph 22-25, 25-20, 27-25, 25-21. 

Hot on their heels are IBB Polonia, who stepped up their quest for an immediate return to the DYNAMIK Men’s Super League. 

They made it three wins from three by coming back from a set down to defeat capital rivals London Aces 22-25, 33-31, 25-23, 25-17, crucially edging tight second and third sets. 

Bristol are on the same points as Polonia, albeit having played a game more, after they inflicted a third straight league defeat on Wessex by a 25-18, 25-22, 19-25, 25-21 scoreline. 

Southampton clinched their first victory of the season at the expense of Exeter Storm (25-21, 25-16, 25-18), leaving the West Country side bottom of the pile with four losses from four. 

In Division 1 North, Manchester Marvels took top spot in the table – but were made to work very hard for it at home to Tamworth Spartans. 

The hosts won the first set and then trailed 2-1 before eventually levelling at 2-2 and taking the tie break (26-24, 19-25, 23-25, 25-21, 15-8). 

 It was a disappointing weekend for Black Country as they gained a point against Rhinos Cambridge but lost for a second time. 

They were beaten 3-2 on their travels after being victims of a reverse sweep, losing 21-25, 21-25, 25-22, 25-21, 15-7. 

They are just one point ahead of third-placed Newcastle Staffs but they have played two more games than their West Midlands rivals. 

Darkstar Derbyshire went second in Division 2 Central and kept their early-season 100 per cent record intact by getting the better of Newcastle Staffs 2 (25-18, 25-16, 25-21). 

MK City achieved exactly the same thing in Division 2 Central as they went 2-0 in terms of seasonal record, tucking themselves in just beneath leaders Loughborough Students with a 3-1 success over Leicester at Glebe Farm School (25-18, 23-25, 25-21, 25-17). 

Oxford Bulls also got off the mark for the campaign with their first victory following promotion as they saw off Cambridge 2 in four sets (25-20, 13-25, 25-14, 25-20). 

Cardiff Panthers’ testing start to the season continued in Division 2 South as they fell to a third straight defeat, this time at the hands of Kent Invicta, who are up to fourth after a 3-1 win (25-22, 25-27, 19-25, 22-25). 

Women’s NVL 

After their opening match defeat to University of Nottingham, Cambridge made it three consecutive wins to sit second in Division 1 North. 

Their latest success was a 25-15, 25-22, 25-16 over Stockport, who remain winless after two matches. 

Manchester Marvels Mayhem are now third after a straight sets victory against Everton Belugas where they were pushed hard in the first set and then won the second and third far more comfortably (28-26, 25-17, 25-16). 

Northampton, meanwhile, improved to a 2-3 seasonal record with a 3-1 triumph over Loughborough Students (25-23, 16-25, 25-16, 25-21). 

It was a good day for London sides in Division 1 South as they moved first and second in the table.

London Giants lead the way on set quotient after a confident 3-0 success over visitors Team South Wales (25-10, 25-15, 25-15).

Having beaten Essex Trinity 3-1 in the National Cup a week before, Richmond repeated the trick in the league, this time by a 15-25, 25-16, 29-27, 25-18 scoreline. 

Oxford Eagles kept their unbeaten record going in Division 2 West, but had to dig deep against Cardiff Falcons. 

Perhaps unexpectedly, given the teams’ respective fortunes to this point, the Welsh club led 2-1 before the hosts dug deep to eke out a 25-23, 25-27, 21-25, 25-16, 15-8 win. 

Reading Aces opened their season in style with a 3-1 success at Tamworth Spartans, only dropping a tight third set (25-20, 25-21, 23-25, 25-16). 

In Division 2 East, Cambridge 2 and Sussex Dolphins are neck and neck at the top on 12 points after both were involved in a Saturday triangular. 

It was the South Coast side who were the major winners, beating Cambridge 25-16, 22-25, 26-24, 25-21, and also Worthing 25-10, 25-16, 25-20. 

However, it was Cambridge who retained leadership of the division on set quotient after registering a 3-0 win of their own over Worthing (25-11, 25-23, 25-15). 

Elsewhere, Onyx moved to a 2-1 record after overcoming fellow capital side Richmond 2 25-16, 25-21, 25-16. 

Manchester Moss Side Jaguars are five points clear in Division 2 North after Sheffield were the latest team to have no answer against them (25-20, 25-10, 25-3), particularly in the final set. 

However, second-placed Manchester Liberators also remain well placed with three wins from three, despite dropping a point in a five-set thriller against Leeds Gorse 2 (25-9, 25-18, 23-25, 19-25, 15-11) where they survived a strong fightback by the Yorkshire side.

London Giants images by Amal K Sudheer and Valeriia Milenina.

Full NVL results can be found here.

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