Opponents: Sheffield 1 & Sheffield 2
Competition: National League Division 1
Date: Saturday 24th & Sunday 25th January 2009
Venues: All Saints & EIS, Sheffield
Saturday Result: L 3-0 (19-25, 12-25, 23-25)
Sunday Result: L 3-1 (22-25, 25-19, 23-25, 19-25)
Headline: Sheffield punish inconsistent Docklands
Author: Andy Hopper

London Docklands Volleyball had a disastrous visit to the steel city at the weekend, losing to both Sheffield sides. These results drag Docklands back into the relegation battle and they will need to improve quickly to avoid playing in the second tier for the first time since 2001. On Saturday they faced Sheffield 1 who are on course for their first ever Division 1 championship and are determined to sew up the title as soon as they can. They produced a professional and dominant display to prove that they are worthy winners of the title Docklands won two seasons ago. However, during the majority of the first set Docklands kept pace with their hosts and a block by Boris Halatchev on England and Great Britain international Andy Sinclair brought Docklands to within a point at 20-19. Docklands then had a swing to tie the scores but Alexis Blair was shut out by Dave Clayden. Then Sinclair produced a devastating run of serves to close out the set 25-19.

Sheffield 1 maintained their momentum into the second set and Docklands' passing unit was unable to cope with the variety of Sheffield 1's serving. With Sheffield 1 setter Kieran O'Malley running his offence with great speed and agility Docklands could not get a hold on the Sheffield 1 attack and succumbed 25-12.

The third set looked as though it was going the same way after a run of serves by Anthony Hignett took Sheffield 1 10-5 up. But Docklands dug in and their resistance was rewarded when an ace by ex-Sheffield player Wayne Davies got Docklands back to within a point at 23-22. Hignett then managed to rescue a rare stray set from O'Malley to lob Docklands' defenders and set up Sheffield 1's first match point. Docklands' debutant Marc Schaepertoens then scored with a cheeky second touch to give his side hope. However, this was short lived as O'Malley went back to the always effective Sinclair to seal a 25-23 third set win.

So to Sunday's relegation battle with Sheffield 2, the proverbial six-pointer. Buoyed by their first win of the season on Saturday against London Lynx 1, Sheffield's second team started confidently. However, with newly installed libero Matt Mills, Docklands' passing unit was providing setter Alex Gaitan with a much improved service and he was able to run his offence more effectively. With Matt Butterworth and Boris Halatchev enjoying success in the middle Docklands led 18-16. But a boisterous Sheffield 2 side were not giving up and after closing the gap they took advantage of some slack Docklands play to take the set with a block by Oliver Kimber.

The start of set two saw Docklands able to capitalise on some Sheffield 2 errors as kills by Mohammed Sliti and Davies helped the London side take a 9-5 lead. Docklands kept the impetus and some varied attacking play kept Sheffield 2's defence guessing as Docklands ran out 25-19 winners.

Set three was always going to be the critical game of the match and both sides seemed to realise its significance as they both raised their intensity. The lead fluctuated between the two sides but when leading 14-11, Docklands would expect to turn their lead into a set winning position. But Sheffield 2 had other ideas and were themselves three points up by 19-16. Then Docklands' older heads took centre stage as Blair and Halatchev pulled their side back into it. A clever hit by Sliti took his side 23-22 up and in control. But some valiant Sheffield 2 defence frustrated Docklands and they converted their chances as Adam Kendray smashed his way through the Docklands' block to steal the set 25-23.

Sheffield 2 stormed their way into an 8-3 lead as Docklands' head dropped at the start of set four. But a time out by Ian Legrand disrupted their concentration and some stubborn Docklands' play dragged their way back into the match to tie the scores at 8-8. But all their good work was spoilt by two hitting errors in a row to give Sheffield 2 the advantage again. This time there was no Docklands comeback and Sheffield 2 railroaded their way to a 25-19 fourth set win.

Legrand said afterwards, "We're clearly disappointed with our performance but we've got to pick ourselves up quickly and get back to winning ways. We're effedctively now in a mini-league with everyone in the bottom half of the table. The first to win 2-3 matches will then be safe." Docklands will hope that they can make the most of home advantage next weekend when they face Warwick Riga at Bacon's College.

Docklands: Davies 4 kills (23 attempts), Schaepertoens 1 (1), Halatchev 0 (2), Bos 0 (1), Mills 0 (4), Gaitan 1 (1), Blake 1 (5), Sliti 1 (7), Blair 8 (22), Butterworth 1 (3), Senatore (Libero).

Sheffield 1: Robertson 14 (28), Sinclair 12 (27), O'Malley 1 (2), Clayden 4 (5), Mintoft 2 (5), Hignett 9 (15), Mack (Libero). Subs not used: Dickson, Green.

Black Knight: Wayne Davies

Docklands: Davies 7 kills (26 attempts), Halatchev 9 (16), Bos 1 (1), Gaitan 2 (7), Sliti 8 (22), Blair 10 (30), Butterworth 7 (18), Mills (Libero). Subs not used: Schaepertoens, Blake, Senatore.

Sheffield 2: Bakare 3 (7), Miller 0 (6), Duncan 3 (7), Roberts 9 (21), Bussey 13 (33), Kimber 6 (7), Melbourne 0 (4), Brewer 0 (1), Kendray 11 (34), Baker (Libero). Sub not used: Messam.

Black Knight: Matt Mills

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