23 Oct 2023
Super League game week 2 Review
Last year's Super League winners in both the men’s and Women’s divisions Durham Palatinates had a busy weekend hosting the University of Nottingham and Malory Eagles.
The northeast sides wanted to make progress this week with two games allowing them to showcase all their new signings for the season.
On Saturday both the men’s and women’s teams faced the University of Nottingham who were looking to bounce back from their loss against Essex Rebels at the Opening Weekend.
Durham women were up first against Nottingham with Durham’s aim to maintain their 100% record.
The first set was close with Nottingham keeping pace with Durham narrowly missing out with Durham taking the first set 25-23.
With this first set tension, Durham stretched their lead into the second set taking it 25-14. Nottingham fought hard after a long journey up to the north east but it just wasn’t enough with Durham taking the final set 25-18 and Durham being 3-0 winners setting them up for the second game of the weekend against Malory on Sunday.
After seeing the women take victory over the University of Nottingham the men were hoping to do the same.
But, Nottingham men came out the blocks fast taking the first set 25-22.
Durham however, regrouped and took the next two sets 25-16, 25-14. Durham were set for a 3-1 victory as they stepped into the fourth set however Nottingham weren’t going down without a fight.
Nottingham took last year's winners to a tie break only just missing out on a fifth and final set with Durham taking the fourth set 28-26.
Durham men would also face Malory Eagles on Sunday with Malory hoping to get over last week's upset from newly promoted Stockport.
Also on Saturday in the MAAREE Super League Essex Rebels continued their momentum from the first weekend with their match against Coventry and Warwick Riga.
Essex took the first set comfortably 25-13 with the second set also going the way of the university team 25-15.
However, Coventry weren’t going to go down without a fight. They took the third set to a tiebreak but Essex clutched the game when it was needed most giving them the set 27-25 and the game 3-0.
With a big weekend of travel for London side Malory Eagles, they were hoping to make the most of their two games against Leeds Gorse and Durham.
Leeds hosted both the men's and women's teams on Saturday with the women playing first hoping to continue their success of last weekend with their 3-0 victory over Coventry and Warwick Riga.
Leeds took the first two sets (25-19, 25-23) with Malory fighting back more in the second. Leeds looked on course to take the game in straight sets, however, Malory weren’t going to make it a wasted journey. They took the third set 25-16.
The fourth set was another close one with Malory just snatching it from Leeds 25-22.
This led to a final set decider for the two teams. Leeds however didn't want to be beaten on home soil with them clinching the fifth set 15-10.
Malory needed to regroup and put it behind them before facing Durham on Sunday.
Leeds men wanted to replicate the Women’s success against the East London side. But Malory had other ideas and could show why they were National Cup winners from last year.
Bouncing back from their loss against Stockport they took the first and second sets 25-18, 25-21.
Malory almost took the match in three sets but Leeds pegged them back with a tiebreaker in the third set which Leeds took 28-26.
Leeds looked on course to take the game to five sets in the same way their female counterparts had done. However, Malory didn’t want to follow that script. With the fourth set going to the London team 25-23.
After one win and one loss for both Malory teams, they headed into Sunday hoping to make it a positive record and take down last year's Super League winners.
The women’s team were able to snatch the first set from Durham in a tricky tiebreaker which Malory took 28-26.
However, Durham hit back hard. Taking the second set 25-18.
The third set was again nail biting with Durham only just taking the third set 25-23. Malory still had the opportunity to take the match to five sets which after Saturday’s four sets would be exhausting.
However, Durham women made it two from two from the weekend and sit top of the table after playing three games winning the fourth set 25-15.
After a strong showing on Saturday against Leeds the Malory Eagles Men played in possibly the game of the season already!
Durham took the first set 25-22 followed by a tiebreak in the second set which Durham were also able to claim 26-24.
With Durham 2-0 up they were looking to take the game in straight sets. However, Malory wanted to try and upset the reigning champions.
The third set went the way of the London side 25-22.
This is where the game heated up!
A huge tie-break set which had 70 total points!
After a to-and-frow set Malory were able to snatch the set taking the game to 2-2 (36-34).
This monster set took it out of both teams but were still fighting to the very end of the game with Durham only just taking the victory 15-13.
At the end of an extremely busy weekend, Durham Palatinates women sit top of the table with three wins from three.
Essex are close behind having played one less game as well. Essex will face London Lionhearts next Sunday with Durham not playing until the following weekend.
For the men's table Essex Rebels sit top with IBB Polonia level on points but having dropped one set.
