NVL Review (2nd and 3rd November) - Knights outline promotion credentials with opening brace

The side who won promotion from Division 2 last season as Team Sunderland by remaining undefeated through their league campaign completed a weekend double over two of the sides that could be their closest rivals. 

First, on Saturday, they travelled to last season’s play-off contenders Stockport, who had pushed Wessex all the way for the title, and registered an impressive 25-21, 25-20, 25-10 victory. 

Then, on Sunday, they returned to the North East to beat fellow newly-promoted and well-fancied side, London Giants, 25-17, 25-22, 25-23 at Northumbria University. 

 

Though still early days, those results have sent a warning shot to the rest of the division that the Knights mean business. 

A side who have recently come down from the Super League, Coventry and Warwick Riga were also in action and secured a welcome 3-1 away win at Southampton, bouncing back from losing the first set 25-21 to seal the next three 25-23, 25-12, 25-18. 

In the only match of the weekend in Division 2 East, Norwich Spikers made it two wins from three at the start of the new campaign by beating Onyx London in the capital. 

They won 3-1 overall (25-21, 25-19, 20-25, 25-23) as the hosts suffered a second loss in as many games. 

In Division 3 South West, Southampton 2 notched a Plymouth double on the road in the West Country. 

The NVL newcomers beat Plymouth UTV 25-19, 26-24, 25-22 and Plymouth 25-16, 25-13, 25-23 to move up to second in the table behind Reading Aces. 

In Men’s Division 1, London Aces took advantage of other teams playing in the National Cup by moving up to second on the table with an extremely hard-fought home victory over Black Country.  

After clinching the first set 25-23, the West Midlands side returned the favour by taking the next also by two points, 28-26. 

The visitors then went in front by claiming the third 25-22, only for the Aces to level at 22-2 by taking the fourth 27-25. 

They then powered to a 15-7 success in the tie break to win the match 3-2 overall. 

Another capital side, London Baks, were also victorious but their margin was much more clear-cut, defeating Cambridge ARU 25-11, 25-20, 25-23. 

Rhinos Volley Cambridge continued their encouraging start to their Division 2 Central campaign as they moved second with a 3-1 triumph over Newmarket. 

They overcame a hiccup in the third set to run out 25-18, 25-23, 21-25, 25-19 victors to move within a point of leaders Cambridge. 

Sheffield Springers continued their excellent start to live in the NVL by recording a double triumph in their triangular fixture to go top of Division 3 North West. 

They are unbeaten in four after seeing off the challenges of Everton Dugongs and Manchester Moss Side by 3-1 scorelines. 

Moss Side then completed a reverse sweep against the Liverpool side, winning 3-2 after a 15-9 win in the decisive tie break. 

Main image by Noelia Fernández Pérez

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