London Docklands v Warwick Riga, Men's National League Division 1, 28th
September 2002
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Riga's National League Division One season did not improve
in the seven days between the controversial home defeat to Stoke and last
weekend's three-one hammering by London Docklands. The loss through
injury of defensive specialist Mark Fearn hardly helped the Riga cause but
the side should have had enough in its locker to provide stiffer
opposition against the team that deprived them of second place last term.
From that best-ever finish, it is hard to believe that a team can lose its
way overnight and yet that is the conundrum facing Riga today. |
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Dan Showler was drafted to fill the defensive gap left by Fearn and started
the match well. However, with Riga ringing other changes in the wake of the
Stoke defeat, Docklands were able to take early command. As Riga's blocking
became disjointed, their backcourt defence came under increasing pressure
and the absence of Fearn bit harder. Docklands romped home 25 - 17, and the
Riga bandwagon looked decidedly wonky. |
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The resulting team talk between sets got Riga's act back together and the
visitors were not put in the shade as the second set got underway. Errors
from both sides bedevilled their attempts to break the deadlock until two
service aces from Riga's Phil Wyles established a 17 - 15 lead for his
team. Although Docklands fought back, more errors from the home side gave
Riga set point. However, poor serving failed to maintain the pressure on
Docklands and they responded with their own set point. A Tom Spijkers power
hit, followed by two Alexis Blair errors, ended the set in Riga's favour 28
- 26. |
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Set three began and finished with only one team in contention. Docklands
powered home 25 - 13 as Riga failed to make an appearance on court. Slow to
start and error prone, a distinctly disunited set of visitors ended the set
dispirited. If the third set ended in disharmony, the fourth began with
Riga on song. John Gilling, Kees de Hoogh and Wyles were all the chief
instigators of an 8 - 3 Riga lead. Although Docklands responded, Riga still
held the lead until 12 - 10 in their favour. Then two bouts of strong
serving, one from Docklands club captain Danny Primus and the other from
team captain and current Division One Player of the Season Albrecht Glitz,
exposed the absence of Fearn with devastating effect. Suddenly 22 - 14
down, Riga now had a mountain to climb. At 25 - 19, the summit was beyond
them. |
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"This wasn't a good day for us," said captain Tom Young afterwards. "We
never really got to grips with Docklands. They played faster than us, with
more aggression and had more confidence than us. We're on the ropes at the
minute but I'm sure we'll be back, centre ring soon." |
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John Boughton |