MEN’S FIRST DIVISION
London Docklands beat Thames Valley 25:8 25:12
25:13
Bacon’s College Sports Centre, Rotherhithe,
London S.E.16
Saturday 23rd September 2006
The EVA computer often seems to make newly
promoted sides play strong opponents in their opening fixture and it was doubly
tough on Thames Valley to face a London Docklands side determined to forget
last week’s loss to London rivals, Polonia. Coach Ian Legrand said of that
team, “They played better than we did and made fewer errors. They deserved the
victory.”
Docklands certainly cut out the errors: my
statistics show that, if only clear cut winners scored points, they would have
won 18:4 19:6 20:6. They may have been missing their German star, Albrecht
Glitz, resting from his hectic beach season and England international, Efe
Eruero, nursing a pre-season ankle injury but new Italian signings Enrico
Savoia and, later in the game, Francesco Riginelli certainly make their mark,
the former able to hit almost as hard with his left hand as with his right;
Francesco is left handed. Dejan Miladinovic also hit fiercely and the visitors
could not find an answer to his back-court smashes. Danny Primus and Nicolas Ruh
shared the setting duties – one and a half sets each and, with libero Alexis
Blair never looking troubled, the other attack players enjoyed themselves
although the appearance of Ned Groy lasted just four winning rallies. Most
encouraging for Docklands was the fact that their concentration rarely wavered
and, although Thames Valley settled down and began to get attuned to the speed
of first division volleyball, there was no sign that they have the range of
plays they will need to challenge at this level.
Valley’s back-court play generally did get
steadier as the match progressed but the heavy attacks continued to catch them
out of position. They also secured more points with the block later in the game
as they got used to the speed of pass and smash. However, it was always a
rearguard action and body language indicated as early as 17:7 in the first set
that they had given up hope. Time out at 18:7 engendered a poor Docklands serve
– as did two of the other four they called: something opposing coaches are going
to note – although Ian Legrand probably already has.
A baptism of fire, then but after the final
whistle, Thames Valley captain, Keith Shields told me, “We are delighted to be
here in the first division. It’s been a long time coming for some of us. The pace
of the game is different and we will need to adjust but we are looking forward
to the season.”
No nomination for Most Valuable Player was made.
I’m not surprised; I could not have chosen between four, perhaps five of the
Docklands players. Albrecht and Efe may have to struggle to regain their place
in the starting line up.
London Docklands:
Starting six: Martin Blake, Boris Halatchev, Dejan
Miladinovic, Danny Primus (captain), Enrico Savoia and Mohammed Slitti.
Libero: Alexis Blair.
Other players: Ned Groy, Cyril
Kubr, Francesco Riginelli and Nicholas Ruh.
Coach: Ian Legrand.
Thames Valley:
Starting six: Jorge Angelis,
Gary Duncan, Matt Mollen, Pierre Robichaud, Olivier Salmon and Keith Shields
(captain).
Libero: Matt Sivill.
Other players: Nigel Jupp.
League Table:
(leading positions)
P W L F A Pts.
1. London Polonia 2
2 0 6 1 6
2. London Docklands 2
1 1 3 3
4
3. Newcastle, Staffs 2
1 1 4 4
4
4. Sheffield 1 1 0 3 1 3*
5. Cambridge 1 0 1 1 3 1
6. Manchester
1 0 1 1 3 1
7. Thames Valley 1
0 1 0 3 1
8. City of Bristol
0 0 0 0 0
0*
*late result
Acknowledgements:
EVA web site and results service.