NVL and National Shield review (10th and 11th October) - Sheffield, Aces and Onyx off to Division 1 flyers

There was also one postponed Men's Last 64 tie in the National Shield. 

Men's NVL 

Sheffield and London Aces have taken early leads at the top of the Division 1 North and South tables respectively, with both making it two wins from two. 

The South Yorkshire team's 3-1 victory (26-24, 17-25, 25-20, 25-23) over Lincoln Cannons was extremely hard fought, but was enough to take them to the summit, one point above Leeds Gorse. 

The side relegated from Super League are a point behind in second, having won in five in their first game and beaten Black Country 3-1 this weekend (25-12, 23-25, 25-17, 26-24). 

Durham Palatinates, the other team to make the drop from the top flight, opened their season with a straight sets victory over BC (25-12, 25-21, 25-18) in what was a tough early season away weekend up north that saw them take on two of the promotion favourites. 

Further South, Aces made it maximum points to also be early leaders as they overcame an Oxford Bulls side who have won promotion in consecutive seasons, prevailing 26-24, 15-25, 20-25, 15-25. 

Southampton began their own bid with success over newly-promoted Dartford Crossers, winning in four sets after dropping a mammoth second set (26-24, 32-34, 25-14, 25-16). 

Things are still in the very early stages in Division 2 Central, but Newmarket, who had a strong season last year, started well by inflicting a first league defeat on Telford (25-21, 25-21, 25-18) since their return to the NVL, having been unbeaten at Division 3 level last year and won their opener following promotion. 

The other fixture saw Reading Aces bounce back from their opening defeat to see off Northampton in straight sets (25-21, 25-21, 25-18).  

In Division 2 South, London Lionhearts moved to the head of the early table with a 2-0 record after an impressive 3-2 away triumph at Kent Invicta (15-25, 25-19, 25-15, 21-25, 15-13. 

Exeter Storm have dropped a level for this season but showed no ill-effects in a solid first-game win against London Baks, despite dropping the first set (24-26, 25-19, 25-18, 25-20). 

Wessex were also in fine early fettle as they came through in three against Richmond Bucks (25-15, 25-16, 27-25). 

There were two games in Division 2 North, the first of which saw Leeds Gorse 2 build on their first game success with another over Sheffield Springers (25-18, 17-25, 25-19, 25-22), making full use of home court advantage. 

With four teams yet to get underway, Nottingham Rockets were comfortable winners over Stockport in the other fixture (25-6, 25-11, 25-11). 

Norwich Spikers showed they could be a strong bet for promotion back to Division 2 Level after making it four wins from four in Division 3 Central. 

The East Anglians suffered relegation at the end of last season but have flown out of the blocks this time, and defeated Rhinos Cambridge 2 and Coventry and Warwick Riga 2 in straight sets this weekend to go six points clear at the top. 

Coventry could take some solace from the fact they bounced back to win the third match in the triangular 3-0. 

Darkstar Derbyshire 2 were the other big winners as they saw off both Black Country 2 and Nuneaton Inferno by a 3-0 scoreline. BC hit back to take out Inferno 3-0. 

Legends Oldham lived up to their favourites billing in their opening NVL triangular since being admitted to the league, overcoming Newcastle Staffs 2 and Urmston Grammar 2 with few problems, both by 3-0. 

The other fixture was a cracker, with Urmston digging deep to come back from five sets down and won a five-set thriller against their Staffordshire opponents. 

Having suffered frustration in both matches of their opening Division 3 South East triangular, Red Eagles Luton had a much more successful second set of games. 

They beat Guildford International 3-1 and Newmarket 2 3-0 before Guildford won the third match 3-1. 

On Humberside, a National Shield match that did not take place on the original weekend of fixtures was rescheduled and saw Liverpool get the better of Hull Thunder 3-1. 

Women's NVL 

Newbies Onyx London are the pacesetters in Division 1 South after a second win of the season against Richmond. 

In an extremely close battle, the side who were Division 2 East champions in 25-26 nicked crucial first and third sets in a 27-25, 25-18, 27-25 success over last season's second-placed side. 

Two more teams got off to winning starts, with Team South Wales inflicting a second consecutive defeat on Reading Aces (26-28, 25-16, 25-19, 25-21). 

Bristol also prevailed – just – as they were taken the distance by newly-promoted Oxford Eagles (19-25, 25-17, 17-25, 25-23, 16-14). 

Despite being both side's first games, what could be an important match in the Division 1 North title race between two sides relegated from the MAAREE Women's Super League, saw Leeds Gorse strike an important blow. 

They were pushed hard in each set by Darkstar Derbyshire but came through on each occasion to record a 25-21, 25-19, 25-23, triumph. 

However, the East Midlanders returned home to bounce back in style as they won a tight first set that enabled them to eventually cruise to victory over Everton Belugas (26-24, 25-9, 25-21). 

Elsewhere, Cambridge ARU enjoyed an excellent start to their campaign, running out 25-17, 25-21, 25-17 victors at Manchester Marvels Mayhem. 

Cambridge's 2 were also triumphant in Division 2 Central as they opened their account with a 3-1 victory when hosting Tamworth Spartans, coming on strong after dropping the first set (21-25, 25-13, 25-20, 25-13). 

Bristol 2 also hit the comeback trail to overturn a deficit against Wombourne and eventually win in four (15-25, 25-21, 25-23, 25-23). 

With two wins from two, Newcastle Staffs head up the early Division 2 North table, this weekend defeating Manchester Marvels Mystics in confident fashion (25-20, 25-21, 25-19). 

Manchester Liberators started off on the front foot as they travelled across the Pennines to Leeds Gorse 2 and conquered (25-22, 25-19, 20-25, 25-19).

Stockport also began in positive fashion as they came through a thriller at Sheffield to take two points (25-20, 18-25, 25-20, 13-25, 15-10). 

All teams have now played at least one game in Division 2 South, with newly-promoted London Ravens among the teams to have registered a win, beating Ashcombe Dorking 25-11, 25-13, 25-19 on their own patch. 

Also victorious over the course of the weekend were Southampton by a 3-1 margin over Dartford Chargers (25-13, 25-22, 29-31, 25-16). 

Herts needed the full five sets to get the better of Richmond 2, coming from 2-1 down to triumph 25-16, 16-25, 21-25, 25-15, 15-9. 

Everton Narwhals have a 100% record after four games to top Division 3 North, with Hull Thunder and Urmston Grammar their latest victims – both in three sets. 

Having played more games than most other teams, it takes them a full nine points clear of their nearest rivals. Urmston clinched the third match 3-1. 

Newcastle Staffs 2 held an early lead at Ashfield Vipers but eventually lost out 3-2, while Leeds Gorse 3 got the better of them 3-0. 

It's Cambridge all the way at the top of Division 3 Central in the early stages with Rhinos Cambridge leading the way after defeating Loughborough Students 2 and Nottingham Rockets 3-0, while Cambridge 3 overcame Northampton 2 3-2 and Nuneaton Flames 3-1.  

Loughborough and Northampton 2 prevailed in the other triangular matches. 

Cardiff Falcons are top of Division 3 South West but suffered their first defeat – 3-1 in a triangular match against Bedminster 2, who also saw off Weymouth 3-0. 

The Welsh side, however, did defeat Weymouth 3-0. 

Six matches took place in Division 3 South East across two triangulars. 

Spelthorne Future Stars won two of those to make it four victories from four games and lead at the top, Richmond 3 (3-0) and Worthing being the two teams, while the South Coast club beat the Londoners 3-0. 

Kent Invicta got off to a flyer in their first triangular, with Teams Essex Ravens and Chelmsford both defeated in straight sets. 

Chelmsford were victorious in the third match by a 3-0 margin. 

Farnborough Phoenix, meanwhile, overcame Dartford Warriors 3-0 in their season opener. 

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