8 Apr 2024
Super League review round 18 – Staffs secure play-off spot to send Leeds down
Both sides knew before first serve that the winner would go into the play-off against the second-placed team in Division 1 to vie for a place in the top flight next season, while the loser would automatically drop to the second tier.
Having won 3-1 when the sides met in West Yorkshire, Gorse perhaps went into the match with a pyschological edge, but it was Castle who came out of the blocks quickly to clinch the first set 27-15.
The second set was always going to be crucial and went to the wire, but the hosts again prevailed, 25-23, to go two sets ahead.
And, with the momentum behind them, Newcastle were able to complete a straight sets triumph, taking the third 25-22, to set up a match against either Black Country or London Giants, who meet in their final match of the campaign this week.
MVP for Staffs was Matt Smith, while Nelson Murangwa won the vote for Leeds.
Two other matches took part in the men’s competition to round off the final league table and the first of them, where IBB Polonia met Stockport, proved to be a cracker.
The London hosts managed to maintain their record of only having lost one match all season, but they were pushed all the way by a Stockport side who have proven over the course of the season they are a match for anyone on their day.
The Greater Manchester side edged the first set 25-23 but Polonia won the second set comfortably, 25-14, to level things up and then nicked the third 25-23.
Stockport once again bounced back to win an epic fourth that contained some 68 points, coming through 35-33.
The tie breaker final set was also a nail-biter before a relieved hosts took it 15-13.
Middle blocker Ephraim Mills was named MVP for IBB, with Patryk Walczak getting the nod for Stockport.
Malory Eagles also warmed up for the end-of-season Final 4 event with a morale-boosting victory, making the long journey to Team Sunderland and emerging with a 3-1 success.
The visitors cruised through the first set, winning it 25-14, but Sunderland levelled by taking the next 27-25.
Another tight set in the third went the other way, the Eagles edging it 26-24, and that gave them the confidence to close out the match in the fourth, 25-17.
Cameron Hook served four aces, successfully returned 31 out of 32 serves and made 11 kills, one block and three digs to be chosen as Malory’s MVP.
Sunderland’s MVP was Oliver Tuck after he made 21 out of 23 service returns, 12 kills and three digs.
Just one match was left to complete the MAAREE Women’s Super League regular season, but it was a significant one.
Durham Palatinates were looking to go into the Final 4 as number one seeds by beating London Lionhearts, which they did 3-1 (25-22, 25-21, 12-25, 25-19).
But the fact that the home team took a set off the North Easteners was the difference between top spot and second.
With Durham and Sideout Polonia both on 49 points, the latter retained a slightly better set quotient, courtesy of having won one more set over the course of the season.
MVP for victors Durham was Emily Haber (17 out of 18 service returns, a game-high 27 digs), while Alice Brand also excelled (27 out of 27 service receipts, 17 kills, three blocks, 15 digs).
Maggie Steward was selected as MVP for the home side after seven out of nine service receipts, 18 kills, one solo block and four digs.
Newcastle Staffs pics by Julia Rychlak
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