Opponents: Newcastle Staffs
Competition: National League Div 1
Date: Saturday 6th March 2010
Venue: Bacon's College, Rotherhithe
Result:  W 3-1 (25-20, 18-25, 25-18, 25-19)
Headline: Docklands offer no charity to Staffs
Author: Andy Vincett

London Docklands Volleyball Club won't enjoy too many more satisfying wins than Saturday's one against Newcastle Staffs. At Bacon's College, Docklands defeated the northerners for the second time this season to leave themselves one win away from a third placed finish in National League Division 1. Recent matches between the clubs have been angry affairs so Staffs, who did the double over Docklands last term, weren't going to get find Docklands in a charitable mood as Staffs struggle to stay alive at the foot of the division. Staffs' own mood could not have been helped the day before when they learnt that they have to replay their home match with London Lynx.

Docklands started the game confidently and were always in control of the first set as they took it 25-20 with some assured setting from Daniele Di Bella and confident hitting by the ever-reliable Mohammed Sliti. But somehow the home team never quite took the game by the scruff of the neck like they should have and in set two found themselves 18-14 down. Staffs, known for their vocal style, upped the decibels and although Docklands played an error-free game, they also just couldn't put the ball away through an impenetrable Staffs defence. It was that attitude, along with the powerful net play of old-head Chris Anderson which gave the visitors the set 25-18.

Docklands were a little shell-shocked and with only two substitutes available for coach Ian Legrand they had few options but to regroup and dig themselves out of trouble. And, with the game level in the middle of the third set, ever-green Boris Halatchev did exactly that, going on an emphatic run of five serves to take Docklands 19-14 up. From there the set was won and Docklands played it out to reverse the second set deficit, 25-18.

Staffs adjusted their personnel and varied their play but nothing seemed to go their way as Docklands took a commanding lead 11-7 in the fourth. Known for their strength of will, Staffs are not an easily broken unit but it has been a long season at the bottom of the league for them and as the set edged along they found the gap impossible to bridge. Their heads dropped and Docklands ran out easy winners 25-19.

In his post-match summary, Docklands' coach Legrand summed it up well, with a satisfied smile he simply said "Job done".

Elsewhere, the top two sides, Sheffield and Malory, contested the match that may have decided the destination of the title. Sheffield had not lost at home since October 2006 but Malory came out on top 3-0 to put one hand on the trophy. They now must safely negotiate Cambridge and Middlesbrough College before facing Docklands on the last day of the season.

After an away trip to Bristol in a fortnight, Docklands next play at Bacon's College on 27th March at 2.30pm.

Black Knight: Boris Halatchev

Docklands: Davies 16 kills (26 attempts), Vincett 0 (0), Halatchev 3 (7), Schaepertoens 0 (0), Butterworth 8 (9), Sliti 11 (28), Blair 9 (28), Di Bella 2 (2), Cottignoli (Libero).

Staffs: Drijfhout 0 (1), Allen 5 (9), Neveykin 3 (6), Lovell 7 (20), Ali 4 (6), Scott 5 (11), Saward 0 (0), Anderson 17 (37), Roberts 3 (6), Bradbury 1 (4), Riding (Libero). Sub not used: Goodwin.

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