Venue: John
Kane Sports Centre, Brunel University, Osterley, London.
Saturday 17th
September 2005
London Malory began
where they left off last season and, although the visitors from Tower Hamlets
fought hard in this Derby match, the champions never really looked like
finishing second best. Even in a lacklustre opening set they looked the
stronger side. They rather let Aquila back into contention in sets two and
three after resting Mark Booth who had made an explosive start but remained
good enough to hold on for a straight sets victory.
There
was little sign of the summer break in the levels of fitness shown but team
cohesion was somewhat loose at times, most embarrassingly when Richard Dobell
set up an Alex Bialokoz smash then blocked his path to the ball as effectively
as a Denver Broncos’ defender. Malory also chose not to go for the kill when
the opportunity seemed to be there, appearing quite casual at times. The one
exception was Mark Booth who seems to have benefited from the experience of
playing for Northern Ireland in the European Championships earlier in the year.
He would have been my choice as Most Valuable Player but he was rested once his
team had re-established the lead in the second set to give Greg Martindale and
Luke Thomas some court time. Thus the Malory vote went to Alex Bialokoz who
would have run him close in my book having stayed on court throughout, playing
with even more zest and enthusiasm than we are accustomed to seeing.
Aquila,
on the other hand played with determination and no little skill and it will be
disappointing for them that they did not have one, or maybe two, “sets won” for
the league table. They probably deserved it and the impression given to future
opponents by the success. They
certainly gave their hosts a fright, taking the lead from the start of both
sets two and three. They were in front to 11:12 in the second and to 13:14 in
the third when it was a case of wavering confidence as much as Malory might
that reversed their fortunes. Veteran Stuart Fullerton seems to have lost none
of his ability and the youthful Antonio Codrington was as effective as his
master; Jalal El Achkar, Terence Chibula and Wahid Hassani attacked ferociously
too while Thomas Mercier and Dave Rijvers shared the setting duties. Today’s
star, however, was Ben Wilson who deservedly gained the East Enders’ vote for
Most Valuable Player. He’s not the tallest attack player in the National
Volleyball League but he has an immense jump and hits the ball very hard
indeed. Malory’s block is not going to be the last to underestimate him.
When Tim Grout and
Donald Conteh return, Aquila should be that much more effective but, with this
win under their belt, I suspect Malory’s qualities will return to where they
finished in April.
Geoff Hollows and English Volleyball
Association web site and results service.