author=Will Roberts

matchdate=21/1/06
EVAREF=mcup
home=Compass Leicester
away=Newcastle (Staffs)
division=1

Compass Leicester 0:3 Newcastle (Staffs)
25-27, 20-25, 20-25

Newcastle (Staffs) Men travelled to Leicester on Saturday to take on the
side placed third in Division 2 in the last 16 of the National Cup. This
time last year 'Castle had also come up against Division 2 opposition,
coming unstuck against the City of Bristol side that went on to win
promotion to the top-flight, so coach Ant Viggars was pleased to be able
to field a full strength squad for this potentially tricky tie.

The Leicester venue leaves little space around the court which nullified
'Castle's jump servers early on as there was a procession of errors
whilst the players adapted to the conditioned. Whilst the visitors never
got into their stride in the first set they did open up a healthy 3
point lead before Leicester’s unorthodox attacks closed the gap to lead
to a close finish, which 'Castle closed out 27-25.

Coach Viggars bravely stuck to his pre-match game plan by plunging 16
year old setter Adam Brewer into the action at the start of the 2nd set.
Settling his early nerves, Brewer benefited from improved passing from
'Castle and linked with his hitters with great promise. Fellow 16 year
old Sam Allen had been on court as libero from the start of the game and
together the tow young players rose to the occasion as 'Castle eased to
a 25-20 win.

In third set 'Castle continued to field the full squad as they
progressed to the quarter-final of the cup after a two year absence from
this stage in the competition. In the quarter finals they will travel to
old rivals Warwick Riga in what could prove to be a real battle to make
the semi-finals. This Saturday the players travel to London Malory to
take on the champions in a game where they are in the unique position to
be fighting to do the double over the superpower of English Volleyball
after the epic win at Keele earlier in the season.