Sitting Grand Prix round one review (4th October) - Bucks start as they mean to go on

Having clinched a fifth consecutive national title at Cup Finals in April, the hot favourites to make it a super six in 26-27 flexed their muscles to again show they remain the team to beat. 

Tier 1 

But the multi-talented, Milton Keynes-based side did not have it completely their own way, being pushed hard in their opener against Nottingham Casualties before coming through in three (25-9, 21-25, 15-9). 

The other opening fixture was one of the closest matches of the day, with Help for Heroes A and South Hants, who respectively finish second and third last year, trading sets. 

The decider could hardly have been closer, but it was the South Coast club who eventually prevailed to get their campaign off to a flyer (25-10, 17-25, 15-13).

H4H A were straight back on court for their second match and showed their resilience to bounce back, edging out Casualties. 

Another tight tussle was decided by the odd point here and there as last year's finalists eventually won out 25-18, 25-27, 15-12. 

The next match up turned out to be pivotal in deciding top spot and saw Bucks forge ahead only to be pegged back by last year's Ken Edwards Trophy winners South Hants. 

It all rested on yet another final set and Bucks showed all their experience – having competed in the Golden EuroLeague last season – to close it out 25-17, 19-25, 15-8. 

South Hants did not linger on that setback for too long, however, as they returned to court immediately to inflict a third three-set defeat in a row to the unfortunate Casualties, who demonstrated their ability to compete at Tier 1 level. 

Richard Osborne's side came from a set down to secure a hard-fought success (23-25, 25-23, 15-8 and, with it, second place in the table. 

Bucks, meanwhile, knew that victory in their final match would be enough to clinch top spot and they duly obliged with the first straight sets win of the round, overcoming Help for Heroes A 25-16, 25-14, meaning the latter placed third in the table, just ahead of Nottingham. 

Tier 2 

Vagabonds defied the odds to clinch a superb victory in Tier 2, winning both of their matches in straight sets with a degree of comfort. 

The team put together from players who don't have a regular club or who are tied to a club who were not able to compete in this particular round swatted aside any worries about a lack of cohesion or not knowing each other to earn instant promotion to Tier 2 for round 2 on 1st November. 

The first game in the pool, though, featured Help for Heroes B and Panthers in what proved to be an epic match. 

Panthers had few problems in securing the first set, but H4H B were soon back in it, leaving things all square. 

What followed was an extended tie breaker where Heroes finally came through to win 15-25, 25-20, 19-17.

Vagabonds hit the ground running in their first outing and showed no mercy as they powered to a 25-7, 25-11 success over Panthers. 

And they quickly showed that was no fluke in the match that would decide who would finish top, taking the decisive decider, hitting back from a set down to defeat Help for Heores B (15-25, 25-18, 15-12). 

Volleyball England would like to thank all match officials for overseeing the matches. 

Images by Malcolm Beadle

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