League runners up Warwick Riga, started this years league campaign in style with a classy performance beating Leeds in straight sets (25-17, 25-13, 25-12).
Following a nervous start that saw Warwick and Leeds level at 10 all, Warwick began to find their feet and edged into a 16-12 lead. Sustained pressure with solid blocking and hitting from new signings Ed Ekanem and Andy Carr allowed Warwick to take the set by a comfortable margin, 25-17.
Showing no sign of inconsistency or complacency that has plagued previous Warwick teams, Riga took an early lead in the second set, 7-2, forcing Leeds into an early time out. With a consistent good pass into Setter Phil Wyles, any hope of a Leeds come-back following this was swiftly destroyed with devastating middle attacks from John Gilling and new signing Dan Turnbull. With Riga in a comfortable position at 18-10, coach Tom Young was able to make some changes bringing on setter Andy Collins and power hitter Kees De Hoogh who had been rested at the start of this particular match. The double substitution had an immediate impact with Kees standing at 6' 7", presenting an impenetrable block resulting in numerous Leeds attacks flying to the floor. Warwick took the set 25-13.
