Eagles hit the heights
It was a great weekend for London’s top sides. The only Premier League side to lose was beaten by another team from the capital in the women’s competition.
In the Men’s Super League on Saturday Malory Eagles, playing at home, imposed themselves on Sunderland, winning the first two sets comfortably and using the third successfully to try different players and tactics. The success takes them to the top of the table with three wins from three although there are two other unbeaten sides who have played fewer matches.
Also playing at home, IBB Polonia were made to work hard by visitors, Newcastle, Staffs. And, having lost the first set narrowly had an equally tough time in winning sets two to four and open their league season with a victory.
Richmond Docklands were also at home and, after the closest of opening sets, proved good enough to beat Sheffield Hallam in three sets.
Away to City of Bristol in Men’s Division One London Aces, won their third match in three played in the league and go top of the table, only two other sides being still unbeaten.
There was more London success in Men’s Division Two when Baks beat Guildford in a thrilling five set match taking the fifth 15:7 to get their league season off to the best of starts.
There was another five set thriller at Cambridge Anglia Ruskin University in the Women’s Super League but the hosts shaded London’s Inter Orcas 15:12 in the deciding set.
In the first match of the day, visitors Side Out Polonia overcame Malory Eagles in three close and exciting sets.
There was only one match on Sunday that involved a London side and that was in Men’s Division Two after Giants travelled to Portsmouth to play Urbond who forced them to produce their best volleyball to go home with a three set victory under their belt.
Sideout Polonia played their second match of the weekend in Women’s Super League and won again, this time against Darkstar Derbyshire in three sets to end their second day of competition in second place.
Meanwhile, in Women’s Division One Dartford Chargers will be disappointed to have lost so narrowly against Leicester Athena.
The Urbond v Giants fixtures had been a double-header and prior to the men’s success Giants’ women had enjoyed a four set win in Women’s Division Two to ensure there was joyful singing on the journey back up the A3.
There were mixed fortunes in the Women’s Division Three triangular in Dartford as Warriors lost narrowly to Reading Aces before beating Cambridge, also in three sets.
Results:
Saturday 22nd October
Men’s Super League
Malory Eagles beat Sunderland, 25:17 25:12 25:22
IBB Polonia beat Newcastle, Staffs. 23:25 25:22 25:22 25:22
Richmond Docklands beat Sheffield Hallam, 30:28 25:18 25:23
Men’s Division One
City of Bristol lost to London Aces, 21:25 15:25 20:25
Men’s Division Two
Baks beat Guildford, 25:20 22:25 12:25 25:20 15:7
Women’s Super League
Cambridge Anglia Ruskin University beat Inter Orcas, 9:25 25:21 13:25 26:24 15:12
Malory Eagles lost to Side Out Polonia, 21:25 24:26 20:25
Women’s Division Two
Lionhearts beat Leicester Athena, 25:20 25:15 25:19
Sunday 23rd October
Men’s Division Two
Urbond Portsmouth lost to Giants, 21:25 15:25 24:26
Women’s Super League
Sideout Polonia beat Darkstar Derbyshire, 25:16 25:17 25:19
Women’s Division One
Dartford Chargers lost to Leicester Athena, 22:25 21:25 20:25
Women’s Division Two
Urbond Portsmouth lost to Giants, 12:25 25:20 16:25 10:25
Women’s Division Three
Dartford Warriors lost to Reading Aces, 21:25 16:25 22:25
Dartford Warriors beat Cambridge, 25:20 25:21 25:17
Contributor, Douglas Barr-Hamilton
Source: Volleyball England website