NVL preview (6th and 7th December) - Teams bid to make a move ahead of Christmas break

Women’s NVL  

University of Nottingham will bid to maintain or strengthen their lead at the top of Division 1 North when they host fourth-placed Cambridge at the David Ross Sports Village on Saturday. 

Second-placed Northampton don’t play, but Manchester Marvels (pictured above), in third, host struggling Loughborough Students on Sunday looking to keep their own momentum going. 

Everton Belugas could propel themselves up the table with a double weekend of action, visiting Stockport on Saturday before welcoming Cambridge on Sunday in the visitors’ second leg of their trip north. 

London Giants go to Bristol on Saturday in Division 1 South and, like UON, the leaders are bidding to protect an unbeaten record. 

Richmond are also without defeat but play only their third league match of the season as they visit Team South Wales.   

On Sunday, Essex Trinity and London Inter Orcas go head to head in a game that could play a big part in deciding each team’s ambitions this season. 

Wessex travel to Bedminster is the division’s other fixture. 

There is just one game in Division 2 East, but it could be a significant one for Cambridge 2 should they prevail at Dartford Chargers, which would take them five points clear at the the summit. 

The same can be said in Division 2 West, where Reading Aces – five from five so far – could extend their advantage at the top to four points if they overcome Wombourne. 

Manchester Liberators will seek to cut the gap to leaders Manchester Moss Side Jaguars to five points when they visit The Miners Doncaster in Division 2 North’s only game on Saturday. 

It’s a busy weekend of action in Division 3 South West, where all nine teams are in action across three triangulars. 

Top two Bristol 2 (unbeaten) and Farnborough Phoenix (one defeat) meet in Hampshire on Saturday for a crunch fixture, with Bedminster 2 also in opposition. 

On Sunday, Southampton 2, who are just a point behind Farnborough take on Plymouth and Portsmouth, while Weymouth, Plymouth Mayflower and City of Bristol face off. 

With leaders London Ravens taking a rest, Ashcombe Dorking will go top of the Division 3 South East pile with victories over Sussex Dolphins 2 and Invicta. 

Tendring, Essex Ravens and Spelthorne Sharks will all hope to improve their respective 4-2 records, and stay in the promotion hunt, when they meet at Tendring Technology College. 

Top of the table Leicester Athena Nova, unbeaten Darkstar Derbyshire 2 and Cheltenham and Gloucester contest one of two triangular fixtures in Division 3 Central. 

The other match-up sees Nottingham Rockets, Ashfield Vipers and Loughborough Students 2 play each other.  

Manchester Marvels Mystics know they can head up Division 3 North at Christmas should they maintain their 100 per cent record so far against hosts Chester Amazons and Isle of Man Falcons. 

York Falcons will stay firmly in touch with the pacesetters as long as they can make home court advantage count in matches with Leeds Gorse 3 and Hull Thunder. 

Men’s NVL 

There are four matches in Division 1 South, including an intriguing clash between leaders IBB Polonia, who will be looking to make it seven victories from seven, and third-placed Cambridge.  

London Aces will look to reverse their recent disappointing run of form in a double header to the West Country, first visiting Bristol on Saturday and then winless Exeter Storm on Sunday.  

Southampton entertain fellow south coast club Wessex, with both looking to move up into mid-table. 

In Division 1 North, Newcastle Staffs have the opportunity to put pressure on their promotion rivals as they host Coventry and Warwick Riga on Saturday. 

If they can make it a sixth consecutive victory, they can then sit back and watch second-placed Manchester Marvels and Black Country battle it out on Sunday, with at least one of those sides sure to lose further ground. 

Also in action are fourth-placed Rhinos Cambridge, who take on Sheffield at All Saints Sports Centre. 

There is just one game in Division 2 Central as Leicester and Cambridge 2, both with one victory to their name so far this season, meet at Limehurst Academy. 

There is also just a solitary fixture in Division 2 South, as Reading Aces go to London Baks, while there are no matches in Division 2 North. 

Top meets bottom when Intervolley Manchester play city rivals Manchester Marvels Marauders – and Hull Thunder 2 – in Division 3 North, knowing two wins will ensure they lead the way into the New Year. 

Manchester Liberators, in fourth, and Harrogate, in fifth, are also in action in a triangular which also features York Vikings. 

There are also two triangulars in Division 3 Central, with Birmingham City hoping to return to the top if they can secure the lion’s share of the points against Nuneaton Inferno and Chelmsford. 

Coventry and Warwick Riga 2, Tamworth Spartans 2 and Wombourne occupy the division’s bottom three positions, but can improve on that by doing well in their Sunday matches. 

Newmarket 2 have the incentive of going level on points with Division 3 South East leaders London Lionhearts ahead of their clash with Onyx London and Rhinos Cambridge 2 on Sunday. 

Before that, on Saturday, Essex Estonians, GNG Bedford and Worthing meet at St John Payne School. 

All nine teams are in action across three triangulars in a busy weekend of Division 2 South West action. 

Unbeaten leaders Weymouth face second-placed Bristol 2 at Redlands Community Sports Hub, with Southampton 2 the third team involved.

Third-placed Urbond Portsmouth, meanwhile, take on Spelthorne Tigers and Guildford International, while a Bristol derby between Bedminster and City of Bristol will be among the triangular also including Team South Wales. 

Main image by Simon Clarke

Full NVL fixtures can be found here.

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