WOMEN’S FIRST DIVISION
London Malory beat Dulwich Tuskers 25:8 25:9 25:9
John Kane Sports Centre, Brunel University, Osterley,
Middlesex.
Saturday 25th March 2006
Already destined for relegation, Tuskers appeared to have
little heart for this encounter with the league champions even if they in turn
have been dethroned by Wolverhampton. Although individuals played well and with
spirit, showing pride in their personal performance, teamwork was not up to
first division standard allowing Malory to look a very strong side without
having to ask Maria Bertelli to come off the bench to add her influence to the
afternoon.
At the end of the match, Rachel Laybourne received a
nomination for the Most Valuable Player award but for the early part of the
first set it looked rather that Georgina Poulton was going to win the match all
on her own. A cross-court smash from the right took her to serve. A deep, low,
hard serve was beyond Tuskers; a back court smash through the middle and
another hard serve that hit the defender in the ribs and had the crowd yelling,
“Ouch!” even if the player didn’t. The score was 5:1 had she had won four of
the points. Rachel did then receive some passes and began to hit winners with
equal alacrity. The score mounted rapidly even though Audrey Cooper seemed to
be taking every opportunity to use her less famous attackers, Louise Tagg and
Katarina Dunderjerski. Susan Mark’s talents were rarely called on. Tuskers did
mount the occasional attack but most were repulsed although Nikki Strachan
succeeded with a dump to make it 15:5 and Shirley Doyle and Karin Berudl
manages one excellent block on Rachel for 17:6. The really memorable incident
of the set occurred just before that at 16:5: a Tuskers’ attack clipped the net
and seemed meant for the floor but Audrey just got a foot to it, the ball flew
wide of Louise eighteen inches from the surface but she managed to tap it
sideways a long way in front of Rachel who, nevertheless, stretched to kick it
over the net where a mesmerised Dulwich could only watch it become a winner.
Coaches’ warning: repeating this move could seriously damage your health.
Jefferson Williams asked Kristie Mitsinka to replace Louise for the second set and Tuskers’ Laura McAlpine replaced Nikki Strachan but it followed a similar pattern to the first. Daniela Sanchez hit off the block for Tuskers’ first point when Malory already had four and Donna Dyer hit off the block to slow Malory’s progress slightly at 10:4 otherwise Dulwich points came from Malory mistakes. However, seven mistakes among an overabundance of good moves, aggressive serving and swift attacks were probably less that could be expected especially as they were using their supremacy to rehearse moves, one attack by Susan Mark off Audrey’s short set looking particularly sweet.
Tuskers introduced Sarah Amon and Flavie Lienafa for the
third set while Malory played both Louise and Kristie, resting Susan. However,
the set began with a run of ten serves by Audrey so any vestige of suspense had
been blown away before Tuskers had a point on a board; that eventually came
from a good block by Sarah. Next time she was to serve, Audrey hit the ball
beyond the base line but it was then 21:8. Tuskers gained one more when Rachel
was blown for a double-touch to make it 23:9 but Kristie hit cleanly down the
left to earn match point which Louise converted serving an ace.
This wasn’t a faultless display by Malory; covering of the
blockers and attackers looked too casual and will need to be tightened if
Wolverhampton are to be challenged in the Cup Final on 22nd April. Dulwich, for
their part, looked out of their depth and should benefit from a year of
rebuilding in the Second Division. Not getting to double figures in three
successive sets is simply too discouraging.
London Malory:
Starting six: Audrey Cooper (captain), Katarina
Dundjerski, Rachel Laybourne, Sue Mark, Georgina Poulton and Louise Tagg.
Libero: Carol Gordon.
Other players: Maria Bertelli and Kristie Mitsinska.
Coach: Jefferson Williams.
Dulwich Tuskers:
Starting six: Karin Berudl, Shirley Doyle
(captain), Donna Dyer, Antoinette Jones, Daniela Sanchez and Nikki Strachan.
Libero: -
Other players: Sarah Amon, Flavie Lienafa, Laura
McAlpine and Carissa Roberts.
Coach: -
League Table:
P W L F A Pts.
1. City of Wolverhampton 17 16 1 48 5 49
2. London Malory 17 14
3 43 14 45
3. London Polonia 16 10
6 35 27 36
4. Wessex 17 10 7 31 26 36*
5. Portsmouth 17 9 8 35 32 35
6. Warwick Riga 17 9 8 32 33 35
7. Loughborough Students 18 8 10 32 36 33*
8. Tameside 17
6 11 23 38 29
9. Dulwich Tuskers 16 2 14 16 44 20
10. City of
Salford 18
1 17 13 53 20
* penalty point deducted.
Acknowledgements: EVA web site and results
service.