| If 2000 was classed as the Riga volleyball club’s most
successful year, 2001 has surpassed it. Men’s and Women’s teams ended the
year in higher positions than last and despite a few minor blips as
Christmas approached, hopes are high that 2002 will be even better. |
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EVA Shield
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This time last year the Men’s team
were putting together their most successful run in National League Division
One to date. After patchy form that marred the early season, six straight
wins took them into the top half of the table. From there on the side hardly
looked back and achieved its best ever finish of fourth by the end of the
season. A return trip to Sheffield in April saw Riga retain their National
Shield title with victory over the hapless Liverpool again. A repeat triumph
in Jersey followed by third place in the Whitefield tournament – another
best ever – and success in the Ertvelde tournament in Belgium have
reinforced the great strides made over the last two years. |
| When the League season re-started, the upward
path of the club was again confirmed. Despite losing their opening match
against current Champions Malory, Riga launched themselves on another
unbeaten run that saw them vying with Portsmouth for second spot. "I
thought 2000 was fantastic," confirms captain Tom Young. "But then 2001
just got better." |
 Tom
Young
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| However the blot on Riga’s
landscape was a spate of three defeats in a row which has now seen them
tumble to fourth place. Aspirations are set at finishing third this year and
with games against Salford, Stoke and Leeds early in the New Year, those
hopes will face an early test. A confidence restoring victory over holders
Wessex in this year’s K.O. Cup just before Christmas has done much to dispel
recent gloom. But an appearance in the Final? "Well, we looked at the draw,
and it’s not easy," says Young, "but we avoid the big guns until the Final,
so we’re going for it!" |
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Sarah Pochin
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Lynette Purkis
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Also going for it in the Cup will be Riga’s
Women’s Division Two side. They face Division One leaders Malory early in
the New Year in a match that will also test their top flight credentials.
After a disappointing finish to last season, the girls have seen a sea
change in their fortunes. With the influx of new players like Sarah Pochin
and the return from New Zealand of defensive specialist Lynette Purkis,
the girls have embarked on their own formidable unbeaten run and they
currently lie second in the table. That could have been first but for a
disastrous showing against local rivals Wolverhampton in their last match
of 2001. |
| "It’s given us the boot up the backside we
needed," asserts captain Rachel McCarthy. "Our coach Tom Young has said
the Men lost a couple of nonsense games on their way to winning Div. Two.
Well we’re going to make that the first and last!" |
Rachel McCarthy
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Sarah Halling
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Also showing the way, but more in a
development sense, are the girls of Riga’s Division Three team. Having
finished mid-table in their first season, consolidation is again the aim.
"We had a number of new players join us this year and it’s taking time to
get the teamwork going," notes coach Sarah Halling. "We’ve shown we can
compete with the top teams in the League but we’ve also shown we can let
ourselves down at crucial times. We’re getting there and there are
certainly a few players in the squad who’ll be pushing for first team
places next season, that’s for sure." |