NVL review (7th and 8th November) -  Leeds Gorse throw themselves into Division 1 men's title mix

Men's NVL 

Leeds Gorse made it three teams with three wins from three at the top end of Division 1 South after their weekend victory at Lincoln Cannons. 

The West Yorkshire side are a point behind fellow unbeaten sides Sheffield, who are in second, and leaders Durham Palatinates, who, like Gorse were relegated from Super League last season. 

Their latest success saw them drop the first set in the East Midlands but then hit back strongly to reel off the next three (23-25, 25-21, 25-20, 25-19). 

Coventry and Warwick Riga scrapped to their second five-set victory over the season as they got the better of Black Country, who are still yet to taste victory in four attempts. 

Darkstar Derbyshire took their season record to 2-2 as they overturned a first set deficit to run out 16-25, 25-21, 26-24, 25-22 victors against Manchester Marvels at the Derby University Sports Centre. 

London Aces made it six wins from six in Division 1 South as they edged a tight first set at MK City and never looked back, eventually prevailing 26-24, 25-17, 25-18 to keep them 12 points clear with every other side having lost at least once. 

Cambridge ARU are in second spot after a fairly comfortable win over Bristol (25-20, 25-17, 25-22) for whom it was a mixed weekend in the university city as they bounced back to defeat Rhinos Cambridge in straight sets (25-15, 25-19, 25-22). 

The other match was a cracker and saw Dartford Crossers eventually come through in five sets against Oxford Bulls. 

The Kent club went a set down then led 2-1 before eventually rallying to win 22-25, 25-16, 25-20, 16-25, 15-8. 

Loughborough Students have given themselves a three-point cushion at the top of Division 2 North as they kept up their 100% record from five matches by defeating Sheffield Springers 25-18, 25-13, 25-21, meaning the South Yorkshire side have yet to win in five. 

The Manchester derby between Manchester Liberators and Intervolley Manchester saw the hosts hold their nerve to come through in five (22-25, 25-18, 27-25, 24-26, 15-13). 

Elsewhere, Nottingham Rockets notched their second straight victory as they got the better of Everton Dugongs at Minver Sports Centre by a 25-22, 25-21, 17-25, 25-21 margin. 

Tamworth Spartans continue to lead the way in Division 2 Central and their latest W saw them overcome Northampton in four (25-19, 25-22, 24-26, 25-18). 

Also handily placed as Newmarket, in third, who are three unbeaten after a straightforward success against Leicester (25-15, 25-19, 25-18). 

Sandwiched in between them are Reading Aces, who have played more games (five) than any other team in the division and took their win-loss record back in the positive after proving too strong for Telford (25-14, 25-20, 25-20). 

Spelthorne Future Stars are also in the mix after they defeated Birmingham City 25-22, 22-25, 25-21, 25-20 at Aston University. 

Wessex underlined their title credentials - and winning an immediate place back in Division 1 - as they were impressive 3-0 winners at Weymouth (25-22, 25-22, 25-19) in Division 2 South. 

Kent Invicta, meanwhile, were delighted to post their first victory of the season as they stormed to a straight sets success at London Baks (25-21, 25-12, 25-11). 

Women's NVL

Manchester Moss Side Jaguars registered a much-needed first league victory of the season as they were 3-1 victors against Everton Belugas at Litherland High School (14-25, 25-22, 25-15, 28-26). 

After a difficult start, they will hope this comeback triumph will lead them on to better things. 

Another side from the same city were celebrating after the division's other match as Manchester Marvels Mayhem hit back from a set down to teach Loughborough Students a lesson (17-25, 25-20, 25-17, 25-21), taking them up to second. 

Team South Wales remain the team to beat in Division 1 South by passing their latest test against previous leaders Onyx London. 

The Welsh women fought back from a set down to eventually win in five and make it three from three to start the season (19-25, 25-20, 25-20, 21-25, 15-11), although they remain third in the table having played less games than their rivals. 

Also going well are Richmond, whose 25-15, 25-20, 25-21 success against Reading Aces at Kendrick School was their third in a row, propelling them up to second spot. 

Elsewhere, Team Essex Trinity opened their campaign with a hard-fought win over Oxford Eagles (25-11, 22-25, 26-24, 25-18). 

Herts contested their third five setter in five Division 2 South games as they came through in an extended fifth after going the distance against Sussex Dolphins (22-25, 25-23, 25-10, 19-25, 17-15). 

Aschombe Dorking were the division's other winners, overcoming some early issues to get the better of Dartford Chargers 15-25, 25-19, 25-20, 25-16. 

Bedminster have gone 12 points clear at the top of Division 2 Central after another pair of victories took their tally to six from six matches. 

They latest victims were Cambridge 2 on Saturday (25-13, 25-22, 25-22) and Leicester Athena Nova on Sunday (25-16, 25-15, 25-15). 

Cambridge bounced back from their previous days disappointment to edge out Bristol 2 in a see-saw five-set thriller, but there was no such solace for Nova, who were also beaten at MK City despite taking the first set (24-26, 25-8 25-15, 25-15). 

Bristol 2's other game on Saturday had also seen a reverse from their perspective as Black Country built on their own bright start with a 3-1 triumph (25-11, 25-18, 21-25, 25-23). 

Newcastle Staffs dropped their first point of the season but nevertheless remain unbeaten as they came through a tough five-set test against Manchester Lioberators in Division 2 North. 

They were rocking at two sets down, but managed to pull off a reverse sweep with a strong finish to win 25-27, 18-25, 25-15, 28-26, 15-8. 

The Liberators stay second but have now been joined on eight points by Sheffield after their home win over Manchester Marvels Mystics (20-25, 25-15, 25-20, 25-21. 

The Miners Doncaster notched their first win of the campaign to leave Leeds Gorse 2 still searching for theirs (25-15, 25-19, 25-16). 

Darkstar Derbyshire 2 were the big winners in Division 3 North as their double success over Isle of Man Falcons and Urmston Grammar (both 3-0) carried them to the summit, level on points with Everton Narwhals. 

Urmston edged out the Islanders 3-2 in the third match of the triangular. 

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