(02/12/2000)
Riga supporters went home with mixed feelings after Saturday's two matches at the St. Nicholas Park Leisure Centre, Warwick. The women's team bowed out of the Cup to the more experienced Sale, whilst the men made it three wins in a row in National League Division One with a three-one result against Egham.
The re-arranged Cup match saw the Warwick ladies from Division Two pitched against a side from Division One who are capable of going all the way in the competition. The three-nil loss was not unsurprising, although Sale hardly had things all their own way. Emma Wood, collecting her second successive player-of-the-match accolade, posed problems that Sale counted themselves fortunate to solve. "Our serving was certainly stronger than theirs and that gave us an edge," said captain Rachel McCarthy afterwards. "Their greater experience and power made the difference in the end, but it was certainly an education."
In the men's match which followed, visitors Egham arrived without a win all season but surprised their hosts by taking the first set 25 -18. Too much tension amongst the Riga players resulted in a hesitant and under-performing display. Only captain Tom Young appeared to have the drive and determination to succeed.
The interval between sets allowed a clarification of the Warwick purpose and the ensuing 6 - 1 lead demonstrated its result. Vincent Joubert and John Gilling joined Young in the Egham demolition job and when Mark Fearn hit a purple patch, the visitors were gone, 25 -15.
"No slacking", Young now exhorted and his team responded. Although they contrived to throw away a 9 - 4 lead, it was not long before advantage was restored. With Egham having little to offer, a closing tour de force from Gilling and Phil Wyles, whose orchestration of the Riga attack is a revelation this season, ended the visitors' hopes, 25 - 19.
With old boy Tom Spijkers now on court for Warwick, Egham knew their time was up. With all the Riga team in free-scoring mode, Egham were bereft of lifelines as well as points. At 25 - 15, their agony was ended.
"We didn't start well but our coach kept faith with us and we turned things around," said captain Tom Young after the game. "Three on the bounce ain't bad but four sounds better."
Whether Young and his team can succeed in that ambition will be tested during a bumper round of matches next weekend. The men play Polonia at the St. Nicholas Park Leisure Centre at 6pm in their last National League Division One match of 2000. Preceding this at 2pm, the women host Ashcombe in National League Division Two. On Sunday in Warwick the women are again in action with the Division Two side playing Sussex (10am) and the Division Three side meeting Cambridge and T H Lynx, starting at noon. Finally the men decamp to Kenilworth and the Castle Farm Leisure Centre for a K O Cup match against Luton Lions from Division Three at 1pm.
"We always have tight games against Polonia and this one will be no exception," notes Young. "The way we're playing at the minute, this one should come our way."
Riga Juniors, based around pupils from Kineton High School, secured their first success in Birmingham & District League Division Two with a three-two triumph over Warwick University.. "Our faces just said it all. Wonderful!" said captain Rachel Tallet.