NVL Preview (13th and 14th December) - high octane end to 2025

Men’s NVL

Newcastle Staffs will hope to make it a lucky seven on Saturday when they host winless Stockport in Division 1 North, having won their first six matches of the season.

Second-placed Manchester Marvels are not in action until Sunday when they cross the Pennines to take on Sheffield, who also visit third-placed Black Country just over 24 hours earlier.

A West Midlands derby will take place at the Alan Higgs Centre on Saturday as Coventry and Warwick Riga welcome Tamworth Spartans, with both looking to inch away from trouble at the bottom.

IBB Polonia are already assured of top spot in Division 1 South going into the Christmas break, but they will want to give Saturday’s home game promotion rivals Essex Blaze all due care and attention.

A West Country derby pairs familiar foes Bristol against Exeter Storm with the visitors still searching for the first win of the campaign.

Third-placed Cambridge, who missed out in the fifth at Polonia last weekend, will hope to bounce back when they entertain Southampton.

Richmond Bucks can finish their year on a high by going six points clear at the top of Division 2 South with victory over Wiltshire Mavericks as Dartford Crossers take a rest.

Invicta could move level on points with the second-placed Kent club if they earn maximum points in their home meeting with Spelthorne Lions.  

All the top three teams in Division 2 Central – who have all won four and lost once – are in action this weekend.

Leaders MK City visit struggling Cambridge 2 while, Loughborough Students will hope to hit back from defeat last time out when they welcome Norwich Spikers to the East Midlands.

Their conquerors in that defeat, Newmarket, are third and will be in Leicestershire again to face Leicester at Limehurst Academy.

Elsewhere, Oxford Bulls (pictured top), who have played just three league matches so far, entertain Northampton.

All eight teams are in action in Division 2 North, with unbeaten pacesetters Darkstar Derbyshire making the short trip up the M1 to face Sheffield Springers.

Second-placed Everton Dugongs are also on the road, at third-place Leeds Gorse 2, while Lincoln Cannons will look to take advantage of one or both of those sides dropping points when they go to Nottingham Rockets.

Hull Thunder and fellow strugglers Newcastle Staffs 2 will gear up for an important meeting on Humberside.

There is one triangular fixture in Division 3 North, where second-placed Liverpool will hope to reduce the gap to the top when they host the bottom two Manchester Marvels Marauders and York Vikings.

Having seen Birmingham City go above them last week, Telford have the opportunity to return to the Division 2 Central summit, but will have to take maximum points against third-placed Black Country 2 and Darkstar Derbyshire 2 in order to do so.

There are now no matches in either Division 3 South East or South West until the New Year.

Women’s NVL

London Giants and Richmond will both bid to keep their unbeaten records intact as Division 1 South wraps up for 2025.

The leaders travel to the South Coast to take on Wessex, while the Dark Blues host Bedminster at Kingston College Arena.

On Sunday, London Inter Crocs and Bristol know a victory will strengthen their mid-table position.

Top play second-from-bottom when unbeaten University of Nottingham meet Stockport at Sutton Bonnington Sports Centre on Saturday.

Second-placed Manchester Marvels travel to Cambridge as Everton Belugas know a win against Northampton could take them above their opponents.

Onyx London can close the gap to leaders Cambridge 2 to just two points with two games in hand if they can overcome Richmond 2 in the capital.

Third-placed Sussex Dolphins, meanwhile, can also make ground if they can get the better of Herts.

Two 100% records go on the line in Division 2 West as top side Reading Aces go to third-place Oxford Eagles, with something having to give.

Sandwiched in between them are Black Country, who host fellow West Midlanders Wombourne.

Like their men’s teams, Coventry and Warwick Riga do battle with Tamworth Spartans, while bottom club Cardiff Falcons welcome mid-table Southampton.

It is also a busy week in Division 2 North, with Manchester Moss Side Jaguars hoping to preserve their big lead when they meet a Newcastle Staffs side playing only their fourth game.

They will certainly gain ground on one of those just below them as second plays third at Fairfield High School when Manchester Liberators tackle The Miners Doncaster.

Lincoln Cannons, in fourth, can close the gap with victory at bottom club Sheffield while Leeds Gorse 2 and Everton Narwhals will both be eyeing a win after just one success between them in 2025-26 so far.

There are no fixtures in any of the Division 3 regional sections this weekend.

Full NVL fixtures can be found here.

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