Opponents: Polonia
Competition: National League Division 1
Date: Saturday 23rd February 2008
Venue: St Benedicts School, Ealing
Result: L 3-2 (25-22, 25-17, 20-25, 15-25, 14-16)
Headline: Polonia do the double over Docklands
Author: Andy Hopper

London Docklands Volleyball played their first match for four weeks at the weekend and again found themselves in a five set battle. However, unlike last month's win over Warwick Riga, this time Docklands' west London rivals Polonia were able to fight back to take the spoils. Both sides were without their first choice middle blockers Efe Eruero and Patrik Selep while Polonia's England Libero Andrzej Saller was also unavailable. However, Docklands welcomed back last season's double winning captain Boris Halatchev although to begin with coach Ian Legrand went with Jesse Kaptein and Alex Gaitan.

Docklands and Polonia have enjoyed a healthy rivalry over the years and in their 20th encounter Docklands were looking to gain revenge for Polonia's clinical win earlier in the season. On that occasion, Polonia humbled Docklands 3-0 at Bacon's College and the visitors were keen to make a better start this time. Despite a mix up between Docklands' passing unit that allowed Polonia to win the first point with an ace, Docklands settled quickly with Klaus Thummert particularly affective on both flanks. Neither side could establish any sort of control on the set as both teams showed signs of the inevitable rustiness after the stop start nature of this part of the season. The impressive Jakub Jablonski scored consistently for the home side and it was his smash that tied the scores at 21-21. His opposite number Francesco Riginelli returned the favour before a stroke of luck gave Docklands a 23-21 lead. A hit by Polonia captain Michas Saller was defended by Alexis Blair and his dig looped back over the net and dropped just inside the baseline. Polonia coach Krzyz Hykiel called a time out to try and settle his team down but Docklands' Nathan French dealt well with the disruption and produced an ace to take his side 24-21 up. He put his next serve out but the damage had been done as in the next point a Polonia net touch gave Docklands the first set 25-22.

Docklands maintained their momentum into the second set as Thummert, French and Riginelli continued to score the majority of their points. It was two consecutive kills by Thummert that took Docklands 15-10 up and into the driving seat. However, Polonia fought back and were back on level terms by 16-16. But then a kill by Gaitan sent Riginelli back to serve and he produced a run of seven serves to drive his side onto a two sets lead. His run included two blocks by Danny Primus on Saller before French rose to smash past the Polonia block to take the set 25-17.

Hykiel introduced Dominik Maslach for Luciano Pinter at the start of the third set and it was his block on Riginelli that took Polonia 11-7 up after Docklands had made a lacklustre start to the set. The sideout games of both teams then dominated as Polonia held their advantage without increasing it. They strolled to a 25-20 win and were growing in confidence again. The tide stayed with the home side as Polonia upped their blocking game, shutting out Riginelli and French to go 13-8 ahead. Docklands looked resigned to a deciding fifth set as Polonia coasted to a 25-15 fourth set win.

It was Docklands' turn to enjoy a run of blocks as two consecutive shut outs saw them take a 5-2 lead at the start of the fifth set. Docklands held onto their three point lead as a Halatchev kill took his side into double figures at 10-7. But a Jablonski kill and two Docklands hitting errors in a row saw Polonia level and the momentum back with the home side. Docklands steadied the ship but a block on Riginelli gave Polonia the advantage and they gained the first set point at 14-13. Riginelli saved that but Jablonski smashed his way to his side's second chance. Primus went back to Riginelli but this time Seb Uhlig was in the way to send Polonia into euphoric celebrations.

Docklands' target of finishing in the top three again has now been put into doubt while Polonia will leap frog Docklands into fourth place if they win their game in hand next weekend. Polonia's victory makes them the first team to do the league double over Docklands since the 2004/05 season and is Polonia's first "Docklands double" since 1999/00. Docklands now have five weeks off before their next league match at relegation threatened Bristol at the end of March.

Black Knight: Nathan French

Docklands: Kaptein 2 kills (3 attempts), Halatchev 3 (6), Riginelli 14 (39), French 10 (21), Thummert 15 (36), Gaitan 5 (9), Primus 3 (3), Blair (Libero). Subs not used: Grandolfo, Savoia.

Polonia: Starkl Johnson 3 (7), Cuthbert 1 (4), Saller 14 (30), Uhlig 1 (7), Pinter 3 (6), Jablonski 20 (41), Maslach 4 (12), Piecka 1 (4), Maslanka (Libero). Sub not used: Hykiel.

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