NVL review (23rd and 24th November) - One point separates top five as Giants cut gap to leaders

While their 3-1 Sunday win over Everton Belugas has not, at first glance, moved them up significantly, the tightly-packed nature of the table means they are now within striking distance of those above them. 

Last season runaway winners of Division 2 South advanced their season record to 4-1 with a 3-1 victory (20-25, 25-22, 25-14, 25-22) over the Liverpudlians, who have also started well, as they battled back from losing the first set.  

There was also the bonus for the Giants of another potential rival, Stockport, coming unstuck in their second game of the weekend in the capital, losing 3-0 (25-22, 26-24, 25-17) at London Inter Crocs. 

It means a host of teams are handily placed for a tilt of finishing at least in the play-offs and ensures an interesting next few weeks, as the table continues to take shape. 

For Everton and Stockport, they could at least make the long journey home from London with a victory under their belts. 

Both had won their Saturday matches, with the Belugas beating Inter Crocs in straight sets – though two of those were by only two points (25-23, 25-16. 27-25) – and the Cheshire side overcoming Richmond (25-20, 25-16, 16-25, 25-23) 

Elsewhere, it was another frustrating weekend for Southampton as they left from their trip to the Midlands empty-handed. 

On Saturday, they pushed hard in the first part of their game with Leicester Athena Phoenix before the hosts took control thereafter to run out 28-26, 21-25, 25-13, 21-16 victors. 

It was even tougher for the South Coast club at Coventry and Warwick Riga on Sunday as they missed out 25-18, 25-18, 25-17. 

There were no such problems for Manchester Marvels in Division 2 North as they beat Sheffield 3-0 (25-15, 25-19, 25-12) to regain top spot with a game in hand. 

They took full advantage of defeat for second-placed Tamworth Spartans, who went down 3-1 (25-21, 25-19, 23-25, 25-10) to The Miners, Doncaster who sit in third. 

Bedminster, Bristol and Team South Wales all underlined their status as promotion hopefuls with wins at the top end of Division 2 West. 

The first of those trio stay top after a 3-0 success (25-15, 27-25, 25-13) over Cheltenham and Gloucester, who are finding life tough at the higher level following promotion. 

Bristol had to work hard to prevail 3-2 against Cardiff Falcons, coming back from 2-1 down to nick it in the fifth (22-25, 25-15, 17-25, 25-8, 15-11). 

The reverse was true for Team South Wales, who crossed the border in the other direction and returned victorious from Cheltenham and Gloucester as they hit back hard after losing the first set (23-25, 25-13, 26-24, 25-18) to stay unbeaten. 

Oxford Eagles are up to fourth after getting the better of Black Country at the Bucks University Sports Centre by a 3-1 margin (25-22, 25-13, 21-25, 25-18). 

In Division 2 East, Cambridge stretched their lead at the top to four points thanks to a 3-1 home triumph over Richmond 2 (25-20, 16-25, 25-22, 25-19). 

Dartford Chargers put points on the board with a narrow win over visiting Onyx, who remain winless so far, in the tightest of encounters. 

The Londoners looked set to break their duck before they were victims of a reverse sweep (26-28, 24-26, 26-24, 25-20, 15-12). 

The division’s other match saw another five setter, including a lung-busting 68-point third set before MK City eventually defeated Herts 3-2 (22-25, 25-12, 25-17, 33-35, 15-12). 

An excellent week from Tendring saw them victorious in both their Division 3 South East traingular fixtures, proving too strong for Dartford Warriors over four sets and needing five to get the better of Ashcombe Dorking, taking the tie breaker 15-5. 

Dartford beat Ashcombe in straight sets in the other fixture, where the sets got progressively closer. 

It was just as enjoyable for Lincoln Cannons further north in Division 3 Central as they did not drop a set in beating Ashfield Vipers and Black Country 2 – to go back up to second in the table – with the former beating the latter in the meeting of the two defeated sides.  

It seemed something had to give in the top versus second clash between previously-unbeaten Manchester Moss Side Jaguars and Leeds Gorse 3, but, in the end, nothing did.

There proved to be not enough time to play the match, and it will now be rearranged, but both teams were victorious in a triangular with Newcastle Staffs 2, who are still to taste a victory this season. 

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In Men’s Division One, the standout fixture of the week was Sunday’s clash between two promotion hopefuls who were relegated from Super League last season – Leeds Gorse and Newcastle Staffs. 

And it was the West Yorkshire hosts who came out on top with a 3-1 victory that saw make a strong statement. 

Gorse took the first set by a comprehensive 25-12 scoreline and followed that up with a 25-18 second set success. 

Castle pulled a set back in the third, taking it 25-19, but Leeds closed out the match by taking the fourth 25-16. 

Coupled with Gorse’s Saturday outgunning of Lincoln Cannons – winning 25-10, 25-16, 25-17 – they are now a full 13 points clear of their nearest rivals, albeit having played two more games. 

Staffs did at least notch their third victory of the season on the Saturday as they edged out Exeter Storm 3-2 in the tightest of battles. 

The Dark Blues were twice forced to come back from a set down and then won the tie breaker by just two points to prevail (21-25, 25-20, 20-25, 25-15, 16-14). 

Tamworth Spartans racked up their third successive victory to move up to fifth in the table – but they were made to work hard for it at Cambridge ARU. 

They trailed 2-1 in sets but eventually pulled through to take the tie break and with it the match 3-2 (25-19, 20-25, 21-25, 25-15, 15-10). 

Just above the West Midlanders in fourth are London Baks, thanks to their 26- 24, 25-21, 25-17 above bottom-of-the-table Hull Thunder. 

It was a significant weekend in Division 2 North as the top two sides, both previously unbeaten, experienced very different results. 

Leaders Manchester Marvels had few problems in beating Sheffield 3-0 (25-19, 25-20, 25-16) at home to continue their fine start to 2024-25. 

In contrast, second-placed Kings of Court succumbed to their first defeat of the campaign as they lost 3-1 at Leeds Gorse 2. 

The Boston side won a pulsating first set 31-29, but that was as good as it got for them as Gorse bounced back to take the next three 25-23, 25-18, 25-22, leaving the Marvels five points clear at the top. 

Newmarket moved up to second in Division 2 Central after coming through on the right side of a thriller with MK City. 

The hosts went two sets down in a match where three of the five sets saw only two points in it but somehow managed to turn things around to win by a narrow 24-26, 19-25, 26-24, 25-18, 17-15. 

Northampton, meanwhile, secured a first triumph of the season in straight sets (25-22, 25-23, 29-27) at the expense of Cambridge, who remain rooted to the foot of the table. 

Richmond Bucks reacted positively to a first defeat of the season the previous week by getting back to winning ways against Spelthorne Lions, registering a 25-20, 25-22, 25-21 to sit four points clear at the summit of Division 2 South.

Cardiff Panthers got their season up and running as they edged out fellow early strugglers WIltshire Mavericks after fighting off a fightback to come through in five sets at Fitzalan High School (25-18, 27-25, 17-25, 14-25, 15-7). 

After losing their first four matches of the season, Guildford International not only recorded their first win, but doubled their tally by repeating the trick in the same triangular fixture. 

They overcame Worthing 3-2 and then shocked Dartford Crossers, who have been going well in the early stages of the season 3-0. 

The Kent side did at least have a four-set win to show for their efforts from the other match against Worthing. 

In Division Three South West, Oxford Bulls continued to show they have adapted to life in their first season in the NVL like a duck to water after making it six wins out of six after their latest triangular fixture. 

Their latest successes were both in straight sets against Reading Aces and Bedminster, with the Berkshire side winning the other game 3-1. 

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