National Cup and Shield Review (2nd and 3rd November) - NVL Exeter upset Super League University of Nottingham

Things initially did not look good for the South West side – who were promoted from Division 2 South at the end of last season – as they lost the first set 25-16 against their Super League opponents at the Coombe Dean School. 

But, crucially, they hit back to level at one set each by taking the second set 25-23 and then forged ahead by clinching the third 25-21. 

It was nip and tuck in the fourth set but, again, Exeter held their nerve to edge out the Green and Golds 25-23 and secure an overall 23-1 victory.

Elsewhere, Super League sides held sway against NVL opponents – though it was more comfortable for some teams than others. 

NVL Division 1 leaders Leeds Gorse pushed Newcastle Knights all the way before the latter eventually emerged as 3-2 winners. 

Leeds took the first set 25-17, but the North East side then hit back to take the next two 25-22, 25-14. 

Leeds battled hard to edge the fourth 25-23 and take it to a decider where the Knights were able to find their best form and progress thanks to a 15-9 success. 

The all North-West clash between hosts Wigan Seahawks and Stockport went to fourth sets before the top-flight side came through 25-20, 23-25 25-13, 25-20. 

Durham Palatinates, London Giants and Malory Eagles all eased through in straight sets, beating Bristol (25-13, 25-22, 25-11), Team Bristol (25-22, 25-21, 25-7) and Newcastle Staffs (25-18, 25-18, 25-17) respectively. 

The match in Staffordshire between NVL Division 1 side Tamworth Spartans and London League club London Bears proved to be highly competitive throughout, with no more than four points separating the two sides in any of the four sets. 

In the end, it was the hosts who prevailed 25-22, 25-21, 23-25, 25-23 to book their place in the last 16 draw. 

There was just one match in the Women’s National Cup as Darkstar Derbyshire hosted Everton Belugas at the Derby University Sports Centre. 

It saw those in black and white register their first competitive victory of the season as they cruised to a 25-18, 25-14, 25-15 success. 

Last year’s finalists, Durham Palatinates, advanced after the withdrawal of opponents Wessex. 

The clash between Cambridge and Northampton – both of NVL Division 2 Central – was one of the stand-out matches of the the Men’s National Shield. 

The visitors stormed into a two-set lead at the North Cambridge Academy, but Cambridge rallied superbly to level the match at 2-2. 

However, with the momentum seemingly going against them, Northampton then found a second wind and won the fifth set tie breaker to seal an overall 25-13, 25-20, 23-25, 13-25, 15-9 triumph. 

Another five-set thriller saw Weymouth squeak through against non-NVL side Portsmouth United after they were twice pegged back from leads before coming through in the fifth (25-23, 24-26, 25-9, 22-25, 15-8). 

But there were victories for two non-NVL teams. Telford overcame a third set hiccup to beat Darkstar Derbyshire 2 in four (25-15, 25-16, 18-25, 25-20) while The Army (pictured top) put in an excellent performance on the road at MK City to come through 25-22, 28-30, 25-15, 25-17. 

NVL sides to successfully negotiate matches against non-NVL sides included Everton Dugongs, who were 3-1 winners at Panthers after coming from a set down (13-25, 25-14, 25-20, 25-19), Loughborough Students, who were 3-1 victors at Birmingham City (25-20, 25-22, 19-25, 25-23) and Coventry and Warwick Riga, who saw off Portsmouth Phoenix (25-19, 25-10, 25-16). 

There were also several all-NVL clashes, with one of them seeing Manchester Marvels beating their city rivals Manchester Moss Side by a 25-18, 21-25, 26-24, 25-23 margin. 

Elsewhere, matches were decided in straight sets, with Darkstar Derbyshire overcoming Newcastle Staffs 25-16, 25-13, 25-22, Wessex defeating Wiltshire Mavericks 25-14, 25-23, 25-22 and York Vikings seeing off Liverpool 25-21, 25-15, 25-15. 

There were also solid wins for Sheffield (against Harrogate, 25-16, 28-26, 25-18), Cardiff Panthers (against Nuneaton, 25-23, 25-21, 25-20) and Spelthorne Lions (against Worthing, 25-16, 25-23, 25-21). 

Leicester Athena reached the final of the Women’s National Shield last season but their representatives in 2024-25 in the shape of their second team, Leicester Athena Nova, will not be repeating that feat this time around after bowing out following a five-set thriller against MK City. 

The East Midlands hosts went two sets to the good but could not hold on as MK took the next two before edging the tightest of tie breaks to eventually secure a reverse sweep and win 27-29, 20-25, 25-18, 25-22, 18-16. 

NVL Division 3 North side Manchester Liberators pulled off a fine victory as they beat Division 2 North club The Miners Doncaster 25-20, 29-27, 25-22 in Yorkshire. 

NVL Division 3 Central’s Darkstar Derbyshire 2 also upset higher division opposition as they beat Newcastle Staffs in four sets (25-22, 25-23, 23-25, 25-19). 

There were two all non-NVL ties in the round, with Newcastle Panthers getting the better of Wigan Seahawks in straight sets (25-11, 25-14, 25-20) and Portsmouth edging out Farnborough Phoenix in five sets thanks to a reverse sweep on the south coast (21-25, 18-25, 25-23, 25-14, 15-12). 

Loughborough Students were victorious in five sets against fellow NVL Division 2 North side Tamworth Spartans – the current leaders – in the closest of finishes to a terrific match (25-23, 21-25, 25-27, 31-29, 15-13).   

Cambridge, a division above hosts Spelthorne Sharks, proved too strong, winning in straight sets (25-21, 25-12, 25-17), while Bedminster prevailed against fellow Division 2 West side Black Country after fighting back from a set down (27-29, 25-20, 25-13, 25-16). 

Loughborough Students 2 could not emulate their first team as they exited following a 25-9, 25-7, 25-11 defeat to Sheffield, while Northampton won the battle of the Division 2 East teams in overpowering Dartford Chargers 25-14, 25-16, 25-14. 

Bristol were comfortable 3-0 victors over Wombourne (25-16, 25-21, 25-13), while Manchester Marvels Mayhem repeated the trick against Leeds Gorse 3 after edging a tight first set (26-24, 25-11, 25-18). 

Lincoln Cannons fired against Black Country 2 to claim a 25-17, 25-27, 25-12, 25-9 win, Reading Aces came through on the road against Tendring 26-24, 25-10, 25-19 and Cardiff Falcons made a successful trip across the border to triumph 25-12 25-13, 25-15 over Plymouth Mayflower. 

York Falcons progressed after the withdrawal of Hull Thunder.  

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