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With second-placed Portsmouth and fourth-placed
Docklands both slipping up away from home, Riga used their St. Nicholas
Park advantage to steal a march on their close rivals with a three-one
victory over Leeds. Whilst the defeat virtually confirms the
Yorkshiremen’s consignment to Division Two, a clear path has now been
opened up for their hosts to take second place in National League Division
One. However, the route to the side’s best ever placing is still strewn
with potentially fatal potholes. Flu deprived Riga of defensive
specialist Mark Fearn and coach John Boughton chose to operate without a
libero for the first time in three years. It was a decision that was to
haunt him for the entire match as without the solid foundation of Fearn’s
service reception the side struggled for the consistency that has been a
growing characteristic of their play. Whilst the young Leeds team appeared
to be first to settle, fine finishing by Dan Showler and Richard Meade off
the serving of Kees de Hoogh soon had Riga in command at 14 – 7. From then
on, the die was cast. As Phil Wyles and Tom Spijkers increased the pressure,
Leeds wilted and the first set was secured 25 – 16. |
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With the opportunity to run the bench, Colin Paterson
and Mark Bottomley replaced de Hoogh and Meade for Riga at the top of the
second set. Paterson was quick to shine and, with Showler and Spijkers,
forced the pace in Riga’s favour. However, at 19–14, Leeds enjoyed a sudden
resurgence due almost entirely to their hosts’ service reception problems. A
tense end-game then followed as Leeds briefly snatched the lead but powerful
play by Paterson and Bottomley saw Riga home, 26–24. |
Mark Bottomley attacks
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Set three found captain Tom Young returning to action
following his injury to replace Spijkers and David Nason substituting for
John Gilling. After early sparring, it was Leeds who went ahead 11–7, thanks
to a series of unforced errors from the home side. Once ahead, Leeds stayed
there as Riga seemed intent on frustrating their own attempts to draw level.
At 25–20, Leeds secured only their eighth set in fourteen competitive
matches in Division One this season. |
 Tom Young
attacks
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With Gilling, de Hoogh and Spijkers returning for the
fourth set it was only a matter of time before Leeds were sent home with
their tail between their legs. Despite a mini-revival to reduce a four-point
deficit mid-way through the action, Leeds were blown away by a five-point
blitz from Spijkers. At 20 – 13 any further Leeds dreams were just that and
as error followed error, Riga were handed the set on a plate 25 – 15. |
| "We don’t tend to play well against
bottom-end teams," said captain Tom Young afterwards, "and this match proved
that again. It’s also shown we can’t do without our libero. He’s become
vital in making us tick. Whilst we can be a bit disappointed about how we
played the result was fantastic for us. If you can keep winning when the
other teams around you aren’t, you’ll get your prize. For us that’s second
place." The victory now
means that Riga are level on points with Portsmouth but stay in third place
due to sets difference. With Pompey visiting Warwick in March and yet to
play champions-elect Malory a second time, a Riga second slot finish is now
in their hands for the taking. |
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