Under 15 Junior Grand Prix review

Those top-ranked clubs will now go forward to play at the National Volleyball Centre in Kettering on Saturday 16th March, with the leading sides from two pools of four going forward to play on the Sunday (21st April) of Cup Finals Weekend at the same venue. 

In the boys’ competition, Pool A will be made up of Richmond A, Leeds Gorse Orange, South Bucks and The Boswells School. 

Pool B will be contested by Urmston Grammar A, Wessex, Dartford and Newcastle Staffs A.

In the girls’ competition, Pool A will be made up of Urmston Grammar A, Boswells, South Hants and Richmond B. 

Richmond A, Leeds Gorse Orange, South Bucks and Newcastle Staffs A are the teams in Pool B. 

Those positions for the boys teams were finalised after both Gold Pools, A and B, were contested in Coventry. 

Urmston Grammar A emerged as the victors in Pool A with three wins from three, including a hard-fought 15-12 tie break set win over Wessex, who finished second after victory in their other two matches. 

South Bucks finished third by beating fourth-placed Urmston Grammar B in straight sets. 

Richmond A did not drop a set in winning Pool B and were reasonably comfortable in recording a 100 per cent record. 

Runners-up Leeds Gorse Orange won their other two matches 2-0 against Newcastle Staffs and the Boswells School, who finished third and fourth respectively.

In Silver Pool C, at London Lynx, Dartford stepped up to the challenge, winning the group with three victories to confirm their Last 8s place. 

Their hardest match proved to be a three-setter with London Lynx, who went on to finish second, where they came through 15-11 in the third. 

The match deciding third and fourth between Deep Dish Crystal Palace and Cardiff Celts was tied at 1-1 in sets before the former came through to clinch the tie-break 15-6. 

Three teams were part of Bronze Pool D, held at Richmond, which saw Dulwich lead the way with two confident two-set victories. 

Team Sideout beat Richmond B to complete the pool order. 

In contrast, Bronze Pool D was made up of five teams for matches played at Leeds Gorse. 

Preston Panthers proved to be the dominant force with four straight victories in straight sets, but, behind that, things were much more competitive. 

Both Sheffield and Leeds Gorse Purple won two and lost two of their matches, but the South Yorkshire club was able to finish above their near-neighbours courtesy of a better set difference (1 compared to –1). 

It was the same situation in the battle for fourth and fifth spot, but even tighter, as Manchester Marvels and Stockport both won one and lost three and had the same set difference (-4), but the Mancunians had a better points difference (-24 compared to -47).  

There were also five pools in Tier 1 of the girls’ competition with the two gold pools, like in the boys’, played out in Coventry. 

Gold Pool A was won by Richmond A, with their 2-1 victory over Leeds Gorse (15-12 in the decider) proving crucial. 

Behind those two teams, South Hants were third and Wessex fourth after a three sets success for the former in the battle of the South Coast clubs. 

Urmston Grammar were at the summit in Pool B thanks to three victories without dropping a set. 

Boswells were runners-up, while South Bucks edged out Ashfield Vipers for third after winning their meeting. 

Hosts Newcastle Staffs were victorious in Silver Pool C, beating both other teams, Wirral and Hull Thunder, in straight sets. 

There was more success for a host club when Richmond B came out on top in Silver Pool D, although they were pushed to three sets by both VBDC and Sevenoaks School. 

Wapping Wildcats finished second after losing to the pool winners but triumphing in their other two fixtures. 

Bronze Pool E was hosted by Ashcombe, who finished top of the table by remaining unbeaten, with their 15-10 final set win over second-placed Richmond C proving decisive. 

Deep Dish Crystal Palace fought hard to beat Dulwich in three sets to settle the third and fourth spots. 

Among the boys’ Tier 2 Pool winners were MK City A, who won all five of their matches in a six-strong grouping. 

Team Sideout A, Richmond C, Stockport B and MK City Enigma, meanwhile, were the girls’ Tier 2 pool winners. 

All pics by Richard Williams

For full U15 Junior Grand Prix results, click here. 

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