Opponents: Stowmarket Competition: National KO Cup - Round 2 Date: Saturday 10th November 2007 Venue: Bacon's College Result: W 3-0 (25-14, 25-19, 25-23) Headline: Docklands begin cup defence with comfortable win Author: Andy Hopper
London Docklands Volleyball have started the defence of their KO Cup crown with a comfortable win over Stowmarket. The team from Suffolk are one of oldest clubs in the country but they have never managed to climb higher than the third level in the National League. Their one success was back in 1987 in the Kestours Cup, the equivalent of today's Shield competition. Ironically that victory was against Malory 2, the team that Docklands was formed out of. However, despite some spirited play the visitors were never likely to repeat that victory 20 years later as Docklands cantered to their sixth consecutive KO cup win.
Although the champions were at home, a coach load of Stowmarket supporters made Bacon's College more like an away venue for Docklands. However, the crowd had to wait until the fourth point before they could boisterously cheer a point for their team. They raised the roof again when in the next point Kevin Kent blocked Francesco Riginelli to narrow the gap to 3-2. However, the away fans were silenced as their team committed a number of hitting errors and with a block by Riginelli gaining revenge over Kent, Docklands strolled into an 8-2 lead. To the disappointment of coach Ian Legrand, Docklands didn't fully use their clear advantage over their opponents and Stowmarket remained in touching distance at 19-14. However, then Riginelli went back to serve and his powerful jump serves put pressure on Stowmarket's passing unit. His run of six serves included three aces and helped Docklands close out the set 25-14.
The visitors, still roared on by their travelling support, were not disheartened and raced into a 5-1 lead at the start of the second set with the help of some slack Docklands' play. However, the current cup holders recovered well to take the lead at 8-7 with another Riginelli ace. But the home side didn't have it all their own way and it wasn't until a short run of serves by Boris Halatchev that they could boast more than a one point lead. Efe Eruero then shut out Jacob Kruger to make it 17-14 to the hosts and Docklands started to look more secure. Further kills by Jesse Kaptein and Halatchev stretched Docklands' lead as they took the set 25-19.
The start of set three suggested that Docklands would quickly close out the match as they immediately took a 4-0 lead. However, Stowmarket had other ideas and matched Docklands' run of four points to tie the set. Unfortunately for the predominately Stowmarket supporting crowd, Docklands turned up the heat again and with Riginelli and Nathan French killing the ball on both wings the home side took a 9-5 lead. Blocks by Eruero and Kaptein emphasized Docklands' dominance and an ace by French took Docklands 16-9 ahead. However, with the match seemingly won Docklands appeared to lose their concentration as some unforced errors crept into their game. In particular, a rotation fault saw their lead drop to three points at 21-18. A kill by former captain Halatchev restored his side's four point cushion and another thunderous smash by Eruero gave Docklands five match points at 24-19. The odds on Docklands needing all five points to close out the match would have been pretty high but in the end they needed them all. Three hitting errors in a row, including one by Eruero that hit the side wall, gave Stowmarket hope and a block by Hermus Chon on Eruero saw Docklands' lead reduced to just one point at 24-23. Legrand was forced into calling his first time out of the match as Stowmarket enjoyed their final flurry. Some tenacious Stowmarket defence repelled Riginelli's first attempt but they could not defend the next attack by French that sealed the match for Docklands and a place in the third round.
Legrand said afterwards, "These games always present different challenges and on the whole we did well. It was disappointing that at times we didn't make use of our superiority but it helped demonstrate to the guys that you can't let your concentration slip against anyone. Fair play to Stowmarket, they came here to give it a go and their supporters were magnificent. We wish them well in the Shield".
Docklands
will next face Reading VC in the third round in January. Next up for Docklands
are Cambridge in the league in two week's time.
Docklands: Kaptein 8 kills (11 attempts), Halatchev 7 (9), Riginelli 15 (27), French 10 (19), Gaitan 1 (3), Eruero 4 (10), Savoia (Libero). Sub not used: Primus.
Stowmarket:
Kruger 7 (27), Chon 2 (5), Fullinger 1 (3), Koch 0 (3), Kent 2 (7), Richards
0 (3), Evans 1 (3), Ames M 5 (17), Koren 4 (5). Sub not used: Ames R.
Black Knight: Jesse Kaptein