(11/11/2000)
London, Manchester and Norwich saw the action as Warwick Riga's National League teams hit the road at the weekend in search of success. The men opened proceedings and the Riga account with an epic three-nil victory over Aquila in Division One. The women's Division Two side went down three-one to Salford, whilst the women's Division Three team had mixed success, going down three-one to hosts UEA but then recording their second victory over Hedley by the same margin.
Having experienced problems on their last visit to London, Warwick made sure of an early arrival and that preparation seemed to be paying dividends as early Aquila advances were quickly rebuffed. Eventually Aquila did forge a sustainable lead despite the efforts of Riga's captain Tom Young and John Gilling. At 23 - 21 to Aquila, the experience of the Londoners seemed destined to see them home. However three superb serves from Phil Wyles created chances for Gilling and Vincent Joubert to give Warwick set point. England international Danny Wol, in a rare contribution to the match, denied Riga victory. With a gap of two points being required to seal the set, neither side was going to give up the fight easily. Gilling and Young then saved four set points in succession between them before the visitors were denied their glory for a third time by Aquila's Kratochava. The set now seemed to have no end but with Wyles again on service, Aquila cracked and Riga rejoiced 33 - 31.
The second set was almost as dramatic. As Joubert and Dan Showler made their mark on the game, Warwick raced into a 4 - 0 lead. Aquila responded but looked far from settled against a bubbly Riga team. When the visitors' lead edged to 23 - 15, Aquila had a mountain to climb. Circumstances begged for the killer touch, but as so often happens, Warwick's knife went blunt. A combination of mistakes and a revitalised Aquila overturned the lead to snatch set point. Wyles rescued his team, first with a visionary attack and then in combination with Dave Nason to block out an Aquila reply. Set point to Riga was now denied again, before two mistakes from Aquila's other England international, Joe Mildred, handed the visitors victory at 28 - 26.
Could set three repeat the drama? Warwick grew an early lead, thanks to Joubert and Gilling, before a Wol inspired Aquila wrestled the advantage back. Neither side gave the other an inch until captain Young spurred his side to clinch a potentially decisive 22 - 18 lead. With Showler hitting a purple patch, set point soon followed. Aquila again showed they are a top team by refusing to lie down quietly, but a Wyles-Gilling block ended their interest at 25 - 22.
"That was fantastic" said an ecstatic captain Tom Young after the match. "Our coach has been saying that we're playing better this season but we've been unlucky with results. I think this one proved him right. Everyone played well, especially our unsung hero, Mark Fearn. He was brilliant again this week."
Riga Ladies failed to repeat their success against Solent in Division Two when they lost out to Salford in Division Two. The side had its chances and were disappointed with the result. "We were seven points up in the first set and blew it," said captain Rachel McCarthy. "Despite winning the second that first one was crucial. At two nil up, the game would have been ours, but we lost our way and got the result we deserved."
Warwick Men's next match finds them travelling north to meet last year's fellow Plate finalists, Liverpool, on Saturday. The match will be a test of Riga's consistency as well as the potential debut of new signing Tom Spijkers. The Scousers, who lie just above Warwick in the table, are still smarting from their defeat in the televised Final and will be out for revenge. "Liverpool play with plenty of spirit and can be hard to break down," agrees Young. "Our form has been pretty good lately and the Aquila result is a big boost. We need to repeat that week in, week out though if we are to get into the top half of the table, where I believe we should be."
The women's National League Division Two side host local rivals Cleobury at the St. Nicholas Park Leisure Centre, Warwick on Sunday (2pm). With Cleobury fielding a number of England Juniors, Riga will have to call on all the experience within their ranks to claim a result.