London League season 2021/22 summary

Lionhearts East and Onyx take the season’s honours

Each winning twelve of its fourteen fixtures during the season, the 2022 Premier Division trophies went to the women of Lionhearts East and Onyx men. Volleyball says, “Congratulations”.

Onyx women came close to making it a double for their club, failing because time ran out at two sets all in their away match against Polonia IMKA who were to finish third in the division. With one more loss, SQUAD finished the season as men’s runners up with Spikers Powerball, who had won eight of its matches, third.

Winners of all twelve of its matches in W1A, Bears showed themselves a class ahead of the rest, second place, Wimbledon Wildkats, third place Giants and the fourth side, Lionhearts Fury all losing as many matches as they won. W1B was rather closer with Flaming 6 Coyotes top with eleven wins from twelve games. With nine victories, Lionhearts Cats were runners up and Inter Stingray third.

KS Osemka were equally unbeatable in M1A but it was rather closer behind them with Spikers Knights second with eleven wins and Inter Stingray third with seven. A much closer contest in M1B, won by Lionhearts Alpha with eleven wins in fourteen games and Baks 2 beating Giants into second despite one fewer victory; their results included two draws.

The women of KS Osemka emulated their men by securing promotion in winning eleven of its twelve games to top W2A. Willesden finished second and Londinium pipped Wimbledon Flames to third place on sets difference. It was even closer behind winners Waterloo Thunder in W2B with Good Times finishing above SQUAD 2 in second place thanks to a better points record; the teams were equal on matches won and sets won and lost.

In contrast, the teams of M2A were well separated with IBB Polonia Pro finishing top by winning 13 of its 14 games. Winning ten, Baks 2 were second and, winners of eight, Fireball, third. SQUAD 2 were closely challenged in M2B, however and took the title with eleven wins from twelve matches compared with Wolves 10. Victors seven times, Good Times finished third.

It has been a good season and great to see that almost all the games were completed. The recovery from the Coronavirus Pandemic has been complete.  

Contributor, Douglas Barr-Hamilton