Opponents: City of Bristol 1 Competition: National League Division 1 Date: Saturday 1st November 2008 Venue: Bacon's College, Rotherhithe Result: L 3-1 (21-25, 25-10, 23-25, 21-25)
Headline: Docklands' poor run continues
Author: Andy Hopper
London Docklands Volleyball remain in ninth place in the national league after a tough defeat against fellow strugglers City of Bristol 1. This is Docklands' lowest league position since the 1999/00 season and with a third of the season gone the east London side are under serious pressure. They were unlucky to lose to league leaders Newcastle Staffs last weekend and with Mohammed Sliti back in the libero shirt after ten months out due to injury Docklands coach Ian Legrand was hoping to see more stability from his passing unit. Legrand could also call on new signing Matt Butterworth but chose to start the experienced Boris Halatchev and Onno Bos in the middle.
Docklands started confidently with Matt Mills and Alexis Blair both powering their way to early points. Setter Danny Primus was also able to get Wayne Davies into the game early and he would prove to be a thorn in Bristol's side for the whole match. But a run of serves by Bristol's Tom Lord put early pressure on Docklands' passing unit and the visitors moved 9-6 up. Further service pressure from ex-England international Matt Pierce helped Bristol stretch their lead to five points, forcing Legrand to call his first time out. Blair sided out and further kills by Bos and Davies saw Docklands back to within two points. But a Docklands' serving error followed by two aces by Robin Miedzybroozke swung it back Bristol's way and despite two blocks by Halatchev near the end of the set Bristol sided out their way to 25-21 first set win.
Docklands started the second set with a bang as aces by Blair and Primus and three kills by Davies took them 8-2 up. Then a series of eight Mills' serves coupled with blocks by Davies and Bos saw Docklands build a commanding 16-3 lead. Bristol just managed to reach double figures as Docklands strolled to a 25-10 win.
Set three provided the crowd with some thrilling rallies and high powered volleyball. Neither side was able to open up a significant lead until two consecutive Bristol blocks took them 15-12 ahead. Docklands managed to stabilise their side out game but could not make a breakthrough until a Bristol error gave them hope at 22-21. However, a Docklands' service error gave the initiative back to the visitors and they grasped their chance to take the set 25-23.
Docklands battled well in the fourth set but were always chasing the game after falling behind 9-6 with a wild hitting error. With the score at 19-16 to Bristol, Docklands won a dramatic rally after Sliti retrieved the ball almost off the back wall. This seemed to ignite the home side again and Blair followed it up with an ace, putting Docklands back in the set. However, three Bristol kills in a row from three different hitters broke Docklands' run and knocked the wind out of their valiant attempt. Bristol were again able to side out their way to their third win of the season.
Docklands'
next league match in four week's time is against another team in trouble,
Reading, and is now a must win for the 2006/07 double winners. Before
then Docklands start their KO cup campaign with a home tie against non-league
Wandsworth White Eagles on 15th November.
Black Knight: Wayne Davies
Docklands: Davies 21 kills (38 attempts), Halatchev 3 (6), Bos 2 (4), Mills 10 (20), Apostolov 0 (0), Primus 2 (5), Blair 9 (32), Butterworth 0 (2), Sliti (Libero). Subs not used: Gaitan, Senatore.
Bristol:
Kuchajewicz 10 (32), Pierce 1 (4), Lord 7 (16), Polkingthorne 0 (2), Snaidach
2 (2), Musalimov 5 (14), Burt 3 (7), Miedzybroozke 12 (24).