NVL preview (23rd and 24th November) - Belugas face pivotal capital trip

The Liverpool side have started well and sit third in the table with three wins from their first four matches after finishing last season strongly. 

But the Merseysiders face two stiff tests as they bid to underline their credentials as a team to watch this season, first taking on London Inter Crocs at Haverstock School.

After a night’s rest they will then face another team with just one defeat in 2024-25, London Giants, as the two meet at Clapham Leisure Centre. 

Another side to journey south from the North West to London for the weekend are Stockport, who visit Richmond on Saturday and then provide Inter Crocs with their second opponents of the weekend on Sunday. 

Making a long trip in the other direction are struggling Southampton, who will make their way up to the Midlands to face Leicester Athena Phoenix on Saturday and Coventry and Warwick Riga on Sunday. 

The top two are both in action in Division 2 as leaders Tamworth Spartans go to third-placed The Miners Doncaster, while Manchester Marvels Mayhem will look to take advantage of any slip-up by the West Midlanders, should it be forthcoming, as they play Sheffield at the Dean Trust, Ardwick. 

In Division 2 East, top-the-table Cambridge meet a Richmond 2 side who are unbeaten in the only two league matches they have played so far. 

Elsewhere, MK City host Herts at Glebe Farm School and Dartford Chargers welcome Onyx to Dartford Technology College.  

There are four matches over the weekend in Division 2 West, but only one of these is on Saturday, and it sees second-placed Bedminster host bottom-of-the-table Cheltenham and Gloucester. 

On Sunday, leaders Bristol cross the Avon Bridge to face Cardiff Falcons, Oxford Eagles play Black Country and unbeaten Team South Wales cross the border to provide Cheltenham and Gloucester’s second opposition of the weekend. 

There is just a solitary triangular fixture in Division 3 North, but it is a significant one as two sides who have won all their league matches so far go head to head. 

Leeds Gorse 3 (seven wins) and hosts Manchester Moss Side Jaguars (six wins) and will also face bottom club Newcastle Staffs 2. 

Lincoln Cannons will be determined to bounce back from a disappointing weekend when they take on Black Country 2 and Ashfield Vipers in the only triangular match in Division 3 Central. 

Fourth-placed Ashcombe Dorking, with three wins from four Division 3 South East matches, have the chance to make up ground on the sides above them when they tackle Tendring and Dartford Warriors, two sides below them in the table. 

There are no matches this weekend in Division 3 South West. 

A potentially important game in the Men’s Division 1 promotion race takes place in West Yorkshire on Sunday when Leeds Gorse host Newcastle Staffs. 

Both sides were relegated from Super League last season and are looking to make an immediate return with Leeds topping the table with just one defeat so far and Castle remaining unbeaten but having played only two games so far. 

The two teams are also in action on Saturday as Gorse host Lincoln Cannons and Staffs welcome Exeter Storm. 

There are two other Saturday matches in the division as London Baks are at home to struggling Hull Thunder and Cambridge ARU take on a Tamworth Spartans side seeking a third consecutive victory. 

Both Division 2 North matches will happen on Sunday, with unbeaten league leaders Manchester Marvels looking to keep their record going as they entertain Sheffield, while second place Kings of Court, also yet to taste defeat, travel east to face Leeds Gorse 2.  

There are also two matches in Division 2 Central where Newmarket will hope to close the gap on table toppers Rhinos Volley Cambridge – who are without a match this weekend – when they entertain MK City. 

Neither Cambridge nor Northampton have yet won a game this season, but that will change for one of them when they meet at North Cambridge Academy. 

Leaders Richmond Bucks will hope to bounce back from a first defeat of the season last weekend when they host when they host Spelthorne Lions in Division 2 South, while something has to give as winless Cardiff Panthers and Wiltshire Mavericks go head to head in Wales.

 

There are no matches in either Division Three North Central or Division 2 North West, but a triangular in Division 3 South East will see Dartford Crossers bid to go top of the table. 

The Kent club will need to secure maximum points victories against both Worthing and Guildford International to do it and, if they do will have played two more games than unbeaten Invicta, who currently lead the way. 

Two of Division 3 South West’s strongest performers so far, Oxford Bulls and Bedminster, will meet as part of a Sunday triangular at Kendrick School that also involves Reading Aces. 

Action images by Simon Clarke

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