NVL Preview (31st January and 1st February) - Staffs aim to pull further clear at the top 

Men’s NVL 

Newcastle Staffs are already five points clear at the top of Division 1 North and have the chance to extend that with none of their closest rivals playing. 

They host Tamworth Spartans in a West Midlands derby, where the visitors will look to make it three victories in a row. 

Elsewhere, Sheffield entertain Coventry and Warwick Riga, with the latter looking to close the gap to third-placed Black Country.  

Two of the top three are in action in Division 1 South this weekend, with Wessex travelling to provide the opposition on both occasions. 

First, on Saturday, leaders Cambridge will hope to bounce back from a five-set defeat at Southampton last time out when they face the South Coast club at North Cambridge Academy. 

Then, on Sunday, Essex Blaze, in third but handily placed with games in hand, can go above IBB Polonia into second if they can beat last season’s National Shield winners. 

All eight teams feature in the Division 2 North schedule, the pick of which is the clash between table toppers Darkstar Derbyshire and second-placed Lincoln Cannons.

With at least one of those two sides guaranteed to drop points, third-placed Everton Dugongs will look to capitalise with maximum points in a Saturday morning match at Nottingham Rockets. 

Sheffield Springers, 4-4 for the season so far, have home advantage against bottom club Newcastle Staffs 2, while the only game on Sundays sees Leeds Gorse 2 make the short trip along the M62 to face Hull Thunder. 

Division 2 South’s second-placed side Dartford Crossers could go level on points with Richmond Bucks at the top, albeit having played a game more, if they can secure maximum points at London Baks. 

The only other fixture in the division pairs bottom side Cardiff Panthers with Wiltshire Mavericks. 

There are no matches in Division 2 Central or any of the Division 3 regional sections this weekend. 

Women's NVL 

After Division 1 South’s top two sides, London Giants and Richmond, battled it out in midweek, both sides take a break this weekend. 

Previously unbeaten in 13 matches between them, something had to give and it was the league leaders who continued their excellent season with an assured 3-0 victory (25-20, 25-18, 25-16), giving them a huge 12-point lead at the top.

The two teams play the reverse match next Friday (6th February) and Richmond are likely to need to secure victory if they are to have any chance of overhauling their rivals. 

There are three Division 1 South matches on Saturday, including the city derby between Bedminster and Bristol at Oasis Academy, Brislington.  

Following Richmond’s first defeat, Essex Trinity could move up to second, albeit, having played three more games, should they overcome Wessex at home. 

London Inter Crocs, meanwhile, go head to head with bottom club Team South Wales, with the former looking to move into double figures in terms of points for the season. 

University of Nottingham have the opportunity to stretch their lead back out to six points when they welcome Everton Belugas to the David Ross Sports Village in Division 1 North. 

The other fixture is a crucial one for bottom two clubs Stockport and Loughborough Students in their quest to avoid relegation. 

Reading Aces can extend their lead at the top over Black Country in Division 2 West when they meet Wombourne. 

It’s also an opportunity for unbeaten Oxford Eagles, who will go at least second if they get the better of Southampton on their own court. 

There are different ambitions for basement club Cardiff Falcons and third-from-bottom Tamworth Spartans as they both seek points in their bid to beat the drop. 

Manchester Moss Side Jaguars will be expected to extend their buffer at the summit of Division 2 North to eight points when they take on bottom club Sheffield on Sunday. 

The South Yorkshire side are also in action on Saturday as they welcome second-from-bottom Everton Narwhals in a crucial match for both sides. 

The Miners Doncaster can cut the deficit to second-placed Manchester Liberators to just one point should they get the better of Newcastle Staffs. 

Having lost out to Cambridge 2 in a five-set thriller last week, Onyx can usurp them at the top of the Division 2 East table on set quotient with a maximum points success at Herts. 

Sussex Dolphins, in fourth place, take on Dartford Chargers, in sixth, in the division’s other fixture. 

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

Action images from Everton's match by Jon Cornish and  Simon Clarke

Full NVL fixtures and results can be found here.

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