SGTV Solent vs Newcastle (Staffs)
National Volleyball League Division 1
3/12/11
Itchen College, Southampton

SGTV Solent 3-2 Newcastle (Staffs)
26-24, 30-28, 24-26, 23-25, 15-12

In a season that had featured a number of matches for 'Castle that have lasted for less than an hour, this was quite a contrast at 2 hours 11 minutes! Very rearely in a player's career will they play in a volleyball match that is as close and keenly contested as this one. Still missing Ross and Yates through injury, and with coach Lovell missing due to the arrival his first child (a baby girl) 'Castle were pleased to welcome back Bradbury who reported in at 80% fit, and had Shenton just passed to play.

'Castle starteed with the same team that had played so well at Super 8s team Leeds Carnegie in the cup the previous week, but the performance from the start was in marked contrast. Jenkins struggled to find the right width and tempo in his setting and 'Castle found themselves 3-0 down and on the backfoot from the start. The team did however fight back slowly but surely, with Shenton in particular making some good kills. But the set, and much of the match was dominated by Szafranski whose height and power through the wing makes a massive difference to this Solent team. The first referee appeared to have decided that only setters could volley and went throguh a two minute period of blowing anyone else who dared to handle the ball in this way to the frustration of both teams and the crowd. Despite having more than one opportunity 'Castle failed to take advantage and by the end of the set Roberts was playing around with subs and time-outs, but they could not quite take the set and it went to Solent 26-24.

That was the first set that the team had lost in the league this season, and their attitude at the change of ends was that it should be the last. However, the 2nd set was no better for the visitors who trailed almost throughout, again failing to take the opportunity to grab the set when there was the chance. 'Castle were struggling with firepower - Allen, Jenkins and Saward were less effective in attack than in previous weeks and McKellar and Roberts were struggling to get involved in the attack, meaning more and more pressure on Shenton. The tension and competitiveness made for a fantastic atmoshpere with a growing crowd, and both teams were really going for it. At 26-26 Saward swung through four clipping the net, the Solent players went up to claim the antenna had been touched, with neither home linesman saw but the first referee stated it had hit and ultimately Solent took a fantastic set 30-28.

The third set saw Bradbury replace Saward as 'Castle looked to add more bite into their attack ,and hoped that Bradbury's shoulder would hold together. The Stoke-born passer-hitter rose to the occassion and in this set it was 'Castle that held it together to win a close encounter. Wood was increasingly effective through the middle for Solent, but Szafranski was showing vulnerability, taking his frustrations out on officials and indicating injury more than once in the set only to then leap high and hit the ball as well as at any point in the match. But it was 'Castle that had the edge, with both Shenton and Bradbury attacking well in front and back court, and the setters connecting much better. At 24-24 McKellar went back to serve and a sub was made, with Saward coming on an serving out the set 26-24.

The fourth set was much of the same and again a tight battle throughout. At 23-23 'Castle called timeout and immeidately sided out with a big swing from Shenton. Again Saward came on to serve and again he did the trick to help 'Castle take the set 25-23 and send the match to a decider.

It should come as no surprise that the fifth set was also tight and very tense. With both teams staying brave and going for their shots it was great that a decent crowd of around 50 had assembled by the mid-point of the third set and they were going nowhere, making great noise. At the change of ends it was 8-6 Solent but 'Castle were battling hard and when they had apparently come out on top in a joust against setter Robertson who dived despairingly after the ball to try to save the point the score should have gone to 12-11, but instead the refereee gave the point to Solent to the delight of the hosts and the utter bemusement of 'Castle. This was then followed up immediately by Wood hitting just long but the ball being called in and the score was suddently 14-10, pretty much game over. 'Castle fought back with two consecutive points, but ultimately Solent took it 15-12.

Squad:
Allen, Bradbury, Heath, Jenkins, McKellar, Roberts, Saward, Shenton,