London League: Powerball and SQUAD still unbeaten

Back in early September we were hoping for a relatively normal season but the Covid virus had other ideas and volleyball is probably fortunate that the fixture list has a comfortable mid-winter break. That has come to an end with four great matches, the first on a Tuesday evening in the sports hall of City of Westminster University in Paddington.

Wapping Wildcats had made a fairly good start to the season with two wins in three matches and hit Spikers, their hosts, unbeaten in their three games, with an impressive display with which they took the opening set with little difficulty. The home side then immediately settled following a serious discussion between sets and three thrilling sets followed. There was rarely more than a point between the sides and all three sets were won by just the minimum two points but it was Powerball that shaded them to go top of the table.

On Friday evening another unbeaten side, Onyx 1 was in action away to Inter at Mulberry Academy to take on a side as yet without a win. For two sets the contest was a one-sided affair but, after looking outclassed, Inter showed how well they could play in winning the third set and taking the fourth to 19:21.

Next day Richmond headed east to take on Wildcats in Somers Town and the teams produced a five set thriller. The first two set were close and well contested as Wildcats produced the great volleyball with which everyone identifies them. They then look to have over-relaxed as they proved unable even to reach double figures and Richmond roared back to tie things at two sets all. A tight fifth set then finished off the afternoon activities with Wildcats back on top. On the number of rallies won, Richmond had by far the greater number but it’s sets that count. That’s volleyball

Monday arrived and Onyx 1 was on the move again, this time travelling to Rotherhithe to face SQUAD at Bacon’s College. The match proved to be another exciting five set contest with one side and then the other going in front before a final set in which the score went well beyond the “normal” fifteen points before the hosts triumphed. They remain undefeated but have played only two games while league leaders, Powerball have played four.

Inter B, Onyx Black and XULU have yet to win a match, but it won’t be long before that changes.

Results

Spikers beat Wapping Wildcats, 13:21 21:23 21:19 23:21

Inter lost to Onyx, 10:21 12:21 21:19 19:21

Wapping Wildcats beat Richmond, 21:17 21:18 6:21 9:21 15:11

SQUAD beat Onyx, 21:19 14:21 13:21 21:16 18:16

Contributor, Douglas Barr-Hamilton