NVL Review (7th and 8th February) - Key win for Blaze men as Giants women on the brink of promotion to the Super League

Men’s NVL 

Essex Blaze struck what could be a crucial blow in their bid to regain DYNAMIK Men’s Super League status at the first attempt as they overcame one of their closest promotion rivals, IBB Polonia in straight sets. 

Relegated at the end of last season, the Chelmsford-based club are making an excellent bid to return to the top-flight, boosted by this 25-20, 31-29, 25-16 win over the Londoners. 

It puts them four points clear of Polonia having played two games less and just two points behind leaders Cambridge, again with two games in hand. 

The weekend was doubly disappointing for IBB as they had already been defeated in four sets by London Aces (33-13, 27-25, 21-25, 25-21), coming out on the wrong end of some tight early sets. 

The Aces can now go above their capital rivals should they win their two games in hand. 

Further down the table there was a welcome home win for Wessex, who defeated the out-of-form Bristol in three competitive sets (25-20, 25-17, 25-21). 

Southampton took their season record to 5-5 as they secured an expected victory over winless Exeter Storm (25-23, 25-13, 20-25 25-14), who have been relegated to Division 2 as a result. 

In Division 1 North, Newcastle Staffs suffered a surprise defeat, only their second of the season, at home to Sheffield, as the South Yorkshire side held their nerve in close sets (25-22, 25-23, 25-23). 

However, rivals Manchester Marvels were unable to take advantage as they, too, were beaten, 3-1 at Tamworth Spartans despite taking the first set (18-25, 25-19, 25-22, 25-23).

 Fourth-placed Coventry and Warwick Riga were victors at Stockport (25-0, 25-18, 25-22) to stay above Sheffield on set quotient, with Tamworth one point further back. 

Richmond Bucks still lead Division 2 South despite being defeated by fellow promotion hopefuls Kent Invicta in a five-set thriller. 

The hosts won 22-25 25-23, 16-25, 27-25, 17-15 in the tightest of finishes at Maidstone Grammar School, but the 2-1 share of the points means the Londoners still have a one-point lead over Dartford Crossers, with Invicta a further point back.

Their six-point haul from the weekend saw them prove too strong for first Leicester (25-14, 25-18, 25-12) and then Norwich Spikers (25-17, 25-22, 25-19) and go above previous table toppers, MK City on set quotient. 

Lincoln Cannons bounced back well from their previous week’s defeat to table toppers Darkstar Derbyshire to strengthen their hold on second and keep the pressure on their fellow East Midlanders. 

They are now just a point behind after overcoming Nottingham Rockets 25-19, 25-18, 21-25, 25-22, albeit having played a game more. 

Elsewhere, Hull Thunder won a five-set epic at Newcastle Staffs 2 to ease their relegation worries (22-25, 25-15, 25-19, 23-25, 15-13). 

It’s as you were at the top of Division 3 North as both the top two prevailed in their triangulars. 

Leaders Intervolley Manchester overcame Manchester Marvels Marauders in four and Urmston Grammar in straight sets as Marvels won the other match 3-1. 

But Manchester Liberators kept up the pressure and ensured the lead remains at three points after straight sets successes over York Vikings and Hull Thunder 2, with the Humberside club winning the other match in five. 

A triangular double for Coventry and Warwick Riga 2 saw them jump up to fifth in the table after proving too strong for Nuneaton Inferno and Wombourne in straight sets triumphs. 

Nuneaton also won 3-0 against Wombourne to stretch their advantage over the bottom club to seven points. 

London Lionhearts landed some significant blows at the weekend in their bid to become Division 3 South East champions come the end of the season by beating both of their nearest rivals in one triangular. 

They beat third-placed Newmarket 2 3-1 before being pushed all the way by Onyx, eventually edging it 3-2 (15-12 in the decider). 

Lionhearts now lead by four points with Onyx eight points clear of Newmarket 2 after beating them 3-0. 

It was a strong weekend for Worthing, who moved up to lower mid-table with successes against Cambridge 2 (3-0) and GNG Bedford (3-1), with the former beating the latter 3-2 in the other match. 

Tendring pulled themselves off the bottom by doubling up against Essex Estonians (3-1) and London Wildcats (3-0). 

Weymouth secured what could be a crucial triumph over fellow promotion hunters Bristol 2 in Division 3 South West, winning 3-0 at the Guildford Spectrum and also defeating Guildford International 3-1. 

It leaves the South Coast side five points behind leaders Team South Wales with a game in hand. 

Bristol could at least take solace from getting the better of hosts Guildford 3-1. 

For their part, Team South Wales continue to set a strong pace as they made it 12 wins from 12, with Spelthorne Tigers and Urbond Portsmouth their latest victims. 

Urbond won two sets by just two points in their straight sets win over Spelthorne. 

In the division’s other triangular, Bedminster 2 enjoyed the best of things, picking up victories over Southampton 2 (3-2) and City of Bristol (3-1), with the former beating the latter 3-0 in the other encounter. 

Women’s NVL 

London Giants are closing in on promotion to the MAAREE Women’s Super League after moving a full 15 points clear of their nearest challengers. 

That team, Richmond, were one of those they overcame in straight sets this weekend (25-14, 25-16, 25-14) – while the other was Team South Wales (25-15, 25-16, 25-18). 

The side beaten in last year’s play-off final have underlined they are taking no chances this time around and have still only dropped one set in winning 11 out of 11 matches, now needing just one more maximum pooints triumph to book a top-flight place.

Richmond, who have played three games less than their rivals but are still well behind the pace, did at least strengthen their hold on second spot by getting the better of third-placed Essex Trinity (25-23, 14-25, 25-19, 25-13). 

London Inter Crocs are up to fourth place after they leapfrogged opponents Bedminster by easing to a 25-14, 25-21, 25-16 success. 

Wessex clinched what could be an important win in their bid to avoid the drop as they went the distance to come from 2-1 down to see off Bristol, winning by just two points in an extended decider (25-15, 25-27, 16-25, 25-17, 16-14). 

There were no matches in Division 1 North. 

Manchester Moss Side Jaguars continued their march on the Division 2 North title as they seek back to back promotions. 

They have an 11-point leader over Manchester Liberators after clocking up their 11th success form 12 against Leeds Gorse 2 (25-21, 25-20, 25-13). 

Newcastle Staffs, who have played at least two less games than any other team in the division notched their third win of the season in comfortable style at Sheffield (25-17, 25-23, 25-16). 

There was only one fixture in Division 2 East, but it was an important one for Onyx as they were able to forge a three-point lead at the top by defeating Worthing 3-0 (25-12, 25-17, 25-21). 

In Division 2 West, Reading Aces are five points clear, albeit having played two more games than second-placed Oxford Eagles, after having all the answers to beat Black Country (25-18, 25-20, 25-21), who stay third.

Wombourne were confident winners over fellow West Midlanders Tamworth Spartans by a 25-19, 25-14, 25-9 margin.  

Bristol 2 landed what could be a decisive blow in the Division 3 South West title race as they beat second-placed Farnborough Phoenix in a five-setter. 

Trailing 2-1 in sets, the city club were facing their first defeat of the season but dug deep to win 15-12 in the decider. 

Both teams also accrued victories over Plymouth Mayflower in a triangular by 3-0 scorelines. 

Southampton 2 remain third after overcoming South Coast rivals Portsmouth in straight sets, with the latter beating Bedminster 2 3-2. 

Plymouth moved up to fourth spot after getting the better of City of Bristol and Weymouth in four sets. 

Ninth and 10th victories of the season for London Ravens saw them maintain their 100 per cent record and six-point lead at the top of Division 3 South East, with Sussex Dolphins 2 and Invicta losing out in straight sets. 

The Kent club pulled themselves off the bottom at their opponents’ expense in the third match of the triangular, thanks to a 3-0 win that puts them ahead on set quotient. 

Leicester Athena Nova currently hold the edge in a competitive Division 3 Central, leading the way by four points after their latest two triangular wins. 

They defeated Nottingham Rockets and Ashfield Vipers in straight sets, while the latter won the battle of the Nottinghamshire duo, also 3-0. 

Second-placed MK City are very much still in the hunt with two games in hand after showing short shrift to Cheltenham and Gloucester (in third) and Darkstar Derbyshire 2 (in fourth), beating both in straight sets. 

C&G then won a five-set battle with Darkstar in the other match-up. 

Rhinos Cambridge took their record to 6-3 but were made to work hard for their four triangular points, going the full distance to beat both Loughborough Students 2 and Coventry and Warwick Riga 2. 

Loughborough edged of the West Midlanders in the other match by a 3-1 scoreline. 

Manchester Marvels Mystics continue to look imperious in Division 3 North and made it 12 from 12 by seeing off third-placed Chester Amazons 3-1 and Leeds Gorse 3 3-0. Chester won the other match in straight sets. 

Newcastle Staffs 2 are in fourth after two more victories against Isle of Man Falcons (3-0) and Everton Seadragons (3-2), the latter far more hard-earned than they might have imagined against a side yet to win this season but who battled admirably hard. 

York Falcons beat Hull Thunder in straight sets and remain clear in second spot, but they were also defeated by 3-1 by Urmston Grammar, who completed a triangular double by edging out Thunder 3-2. 

Action images by Simon Clarke

Full NVL fixtures and results can be found here. 

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