Warwick Riga v Cambridge

3-1 (21-25, 25-19, 25-19, 25-22)

Match Report by Damon Minotti

After an indifferent and at times disappointing game in front of a reasonable home crowd on Saturday against London Polonia, this was a danger game for Riga. With last years result in the back of both teams minds (where Warwick slumped to a season low 5th set loss just prior to the mid season interval) it was a must win for Riga to stay in touch with the upper echelons of the league.

The first set was played under the shadow of the previous games disappointment and neither side was particularly dynamic in their play. Some slack defense and passing from Warwick allowed Cambridge to make the most of their opportunities on the back of some solid Andy Lynn passing. Attacks from Ed Ekanem in the middle and K. Thurmoicrt playing as the power hitter, consistently found the seam of the block from both front and back court.

A first set score line of 25 - 21 to Cambridge saw frustrations spill over in the Riga camp, with a stray Dutch water bottle flying into the huddle, and a normally placid pairing of middle players avidly trading suggestions as to how the team could improve. Coach Tom Young was left to convert the flames of deconstruction into the fires of reconstruction, and a slightly fractured but changed Riga line up took the court with renewed purposed. Slow but steady progress was made as more positive approach, catalyzed by a MVP performance from Resident All Black, Chris Anderson, and a fired up Dan Turnbull saw Riga to a promising 25 - 19 second set win.

Some indifferent refereeing decisions marred the first half of the third set with both teams having justifiable complaints with the standard of calls. A tight period of play in the middle of the set saw a powerful Cambridge attack rebound of a Riga defender and strike setter, Phil Wyles, painfully in the face. With the teams other setter, Phil Hudson, injured as a result of an unfortunate training accident (which was further aggravated by a slippery bar of soap? earlier that morning), the concern and tension in the home crowd was palpable. Eventually an improved contribution from the passing line up, and a quick recovery from Phil Wyles who provided some excellent distribution from the first ball relieved the pressure in the third set, and Riga were able to grind out a slightly more comfortable 25 - 19 score line.

A quick fire start to the fourth set, saw Riga race to an early 8-4 lead. Kees DeHoogh put the pain of his injured shoulder aside to lead the hitting attack and the play of the season, a cracking hit from Dan Turnbull 2 meters inside the attackline, had Cambridge reeling. To their credit however, Cambridge would not lie down and the return of Andy Lynn galvanized them for one final onslaught. At 20 – 20 the set could have gone either way, but some excellent defending and a crucial blocking and hitting contribution from substitute Andreas Wicht saw Riga scrape over the line 25 -22.

A real soul searching day for the club turned out a much needed win and delivered a stark lesson in the power of positive thought. Riga must now overcome a difficult trip to Manchester next week with a depleted squad if they are to keep alive their hopes of a top 3 finish this season.