Opponents: London Lynx 1
Competition: National League Division 1
Date: Saturday 8th December 2007
Venue: Bacon's College
Result: L 3-1 (25-22, 20-25, 22-25, 21-25)
Headline: Docklands fall to local rivals
Authors: Albrecht Glitz & Martin Blake

Docklands hopes of retaining their league title suffered a crushing blow at the hands of local rivals London Lynx. After winning the first set comfortably Docklands seemed to lose their way and never found their game in the next three sets to slip to a 3-1 defeat.

The first set started evenly until a run of strong serves from Lynx's Ben Wilson took them 9-6 up. Docklands fought back and levelled the score at 13-13. Two consecutive aces from Docklands' Klaus Thummert and another from Efe Eruero opened up a 20-17 lead for Docklands at this critical phase which they did not relinquish to close out the set 25-22.

The second set saw both teams within two points of each other until an ace through Nathan French's fingers took Lynx 23-20 up. Coach Ian Legrand tried to calm things down by taking his second time out and bringing on Mohammed Sliti for French to help stabilise the passing unit but Lynx did not let the set slip out of their hands, taking it 25-20.

The third set started as the first two with both teams trading points until Lynx went ahead 7-5 capitalising on some erratic reception from Docklands. However, Docklands refocussed and thanks to some good serving by Danny Primus regained the initiative going up 14-10 and 18-15. Another good service run by Lynx's Wilson forced Legrand into two quick time outs. Docklands seemed to be back in control at 21-19 but a spell of strong play from Lynx paired with an uncharacteristically lacklustre defensive display by Docklands brought a turn of fortunes with Lynx finishing strongly to take the set 25-22.

At the start of the fourth set Docklands seemed to be keen to make up for the previous two sets and take the game into the decider, quickly going up 5-2 with some good hitting from French. However, Lynx again managed to wrestle themselves back into contention and were level again at 8 all. Lynx responded to another cluster of four points for Docklands by a cluster of their own, keeping the scores close. In the middle of the set Lynx then managed to slowly take the initiative and pull away, opening up a four point lead 20-16. A block by Primus brought some hope back to Docklands but Lynx maintained the momentum to close out the set 25-20, and the match 3-1.

This loss leaves Docklands in the middle of the table with five losses now and out of immediate contact to the current front-runners London Malory and Sheffield. Docklands will look to pick themselves up for their final game before the Christmas break which is at home next weekend against Guildford International.

Black Knight: Klaus Thummert

Docklands: French 10 kills (25 attempts), Blake 1 (8), Thummert 17 (35), Sliti 0 (0), Gaitan 8 (21), Eruero 0 (7), Primus 1 (2), Blair (Libero). Sub not used: Phillips.

Lynx: Davies 2 (7), Setsoafia 12 (25), Wilson 5 (17), El Achkar 2 (12), Hassani 2 (4), Codrington 8 (15), Caielli 8 (11), Ferro (Libero). Subs not used: Sola, Trodden, Bernardi.

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