17 Feb 2025
National Cup and Shield quarter-final review - Leeds and Darkstar stun higher ranked opponents to clinch last four spots
In West Yorkshire, Leeds faced an Essex Rebels side who had only lost three league matches all season and had beaten them at Opening Weekend.
The visitors took the first set, but then Elaine Brown’s side clinched a crucial second set to square things up before edging the next two in a hard-fought encounter to secure an overall 3-1 victory (15-25, 25-23, 25-22, 26-24).
Darkstar, meanwhile, travelled north to meet last season’s finalists Durham Palatinates who had beaten them at the same venue in a league fixture just a week earlier.
Like Leeds, they dropped a set behind, but responded superbly to take the next three, including two extremely tight sets to finish (19-25, 25-15, 25-23, 33-31).
Super League’s top two, meanwhile, had few problems in keeping their respective quests for a league and cup double alive.
Malory Eagles travelled up the M11 to Cambridge ARU and found they were too strong for a home side who have struggled in recent weeks, triumphing in three sets (25-13, 25-13, 25-22).
League leaders Team SideOut Polonia travelled across the capital to play London Bears, the only other non-NVL side left in the draw.
They were able to overcome the London Leaguers and last season’s National Shield winners with relatively few problems, running out 25-14, 25-15, 25-12 victors.
While the Women’s Cup proved to be less than predictable, the four Men’s Cup matches went slightly more as expected with the sides who might be considered favourites all winning.
Malory Eagles joined their women’s side in the last four as they completed a straight sets success over NVL Division 1 side Lincoln Cannons.
It took the hosts less than an hour to wrap up a 25-12, 25-18, 25-15, though the visitors did have their moments.
Fellow NVL Division 1 side Cambridge ARU took on DYNAMIK Super League’s bottom side, Stockport and took the third set of their match as they threatened to rally and get back in it.
However, the visitors snuffed out any hopes by closing out victory in the fourth (25-18, 25-18, 22-25, 25-18).
There was another sign of London Giants’ strong resurgence since the start of the year as they saw off Richmond Docklands in a London derby.
Edging the first set proved to be key as the visitors pulled away thereafter to win in three (26-24, 25-15, 25-16).
Current DYNAMIK Men’s Super League leaders Essex Rebels also kept their momentum going as they overcame IBB Polonia for the third season running in the cup.
Though Alex Porter’s side won each set, all three were close, keeping them honest (25-23, 25-22, 25-22).
Four Division 2 sides will contest both the Women’s and Men’s National Shield competitions as the quarter-final ties all played out to league ranking.
In the women’s competition, Division 3 South West side Reading Aces had remained unbeaten in the league all season, but found it a bridge too far when they entertained Division 2 East’s Northampton, who won 25-17, 25-21, 27-25).
Newcastle Panthers were the only non-NVL side left in the draw and gave as good as they got for the first half of their home match with Division 2 North side Loughborough Students.
But it was then that the East Midlanders took command to run out 3-1 set victors in the end (25-22, 24-26, 25-17, 25-9).
Darkstar Derbyshire 2 have performed well in Division 3 Central this season and had home advantage but were unable to match Division 2 West Bedminster, who have made the semi-finals in their first time in the competition, going through 25-14, 25-15, 25-14.
The battle of the two Division 2 sides saw Bristol (West) beat Sheffield (North), with the hosts overcoming a tricky start (22-25, 25-23, 25-9, 25-11).
Manchester Marvels lost a competitive match for the first time this season as Wessex made the long trip home happy after triumphing in four sets.
Unbeaten in Division 2 North action, the hosts were stunned in going down 25-21, 20-25, 25-22, 25-13 to the Division 2 South team.
Another team to surrender a long unbeaten record were Division 2 North Central side Nottingham Rockets, who look poised to win their divisional title, but won’t be adding the Shield to their trophy cabinet as well.
Instead, Division 2 Central’s Loughborough Students joined their women’s side in the last four by prevailing in straight sets, 25-19, 25-20, 25-19.
The remaining non-NVL side, The Army, were involved in arguably the tie of the quarter-finals that went the full distance and was, in the end, decided by only two points.
Opponents, Division 2 Central’s Coventry and Warwick Riga, looked to be in cruise control as they took the first two sets 25-21, 25-21.
But it was then that the visitors really kicked into gear, taking the next two by scores of 25-22 and 25-20 to force a decider.
The tense last set could have gone either way, but it was the relieved West Midlanders who sealed their passage with the narrowest of 15-13 successes.
The fourth and final tie was far more straightforward for the victors as Division 2 North’s Sheffield, second in their table and going well, beat Division 2 South’s Cardiff Panthers, by a 25-19, 25-14, 25-23 margin.
The draw for the National Cup and National Shield semi-final matches will be made on Thursday (20th February).
Check out all the latest Cup and Shield details by clicking here.
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