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Report from 3Touch magazine: The score-line lies. For most of this
match Warwick Riga remained in a position to take control but, once having
taken a two set lead, Malory seemed determined that the day would not end with
a fourth close, tense five-set match. The double was theirs: in fact a
double-double as the club’s women’s team had just added the Prosport Women’s
Cup to their league title.
After even opening exchanges, Malory settled the quicker and gradually moved
to lead 9:6 with good hitting, notably by Joe Mildred and strong blocking. Riga
began to vary their attacks more with Kees De Hoogh and Andy Lynn especially
effective. The scores were tied at eleven all and a finely balanced spell of
excellent volleyball kept spectators on the edge of their seats until an
exquisite overhead set by Richard Dobell enabled Joe to give the Londoners a
one point lead that was doubled when Kees responded by hitting wide. Noses in
front, Malory refused to relinquish their position Steve Fee responding to some
great blocking notably by Andy and John Gilling.
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The Riga team after the game
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With the orange-shirted middle section of the crowd getting increasingly
deafening and excited, Riga began to impose their will on the second set.
Initially just a point after Phil Wyles’ short set helped John make it 1:2. Soon
a two point advantage after another short set enabled Andy Elliott to move the
score to 3:5 then three after Kees hit off the Malory block and they led 5:8.
Malory came back at them through Mark Brown, Morph Bowes, Alex Bialokoz, Joe and
Steve but Riga never faltered. Indeed, Alex Radu stretched the lead to 13:17 and
Morph’s attack clipping an aerial made it look decisive at 14:19. However,
Malory’s experience, particularly Alex’s reading of attacks in the block,
started to chip away at the lead and they levelled the score at 21 all when Joe
hit off the block. It brought Morph to serve and, although coach Tom Young
intelligently called a time out before he could settle, Morph did not fall into
the trap; he forced two errors then, after Richard had played the first pass
helped Alex to secure set point which he converted with an ace.
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Alex then finished off the first three rallies of the third set and it seemed
that Riga spirits sank. With Richard offering a master class in setting, his
attack steadily assumed control and I suspect the presentation party were
getting ready to move when the lead reached seven points at 20:13. Joe made it
sit down again by hitting wide and the Riga block forced it to settle
especially with successive three-man blocks on Morph Bowes by Kees, John and
Andy Lynn. Jefferson Williams was forced to call time-out at 23:18. Joe hit
the ball hard down the line and into Tom Spijkers’ chest to gain match point.
He then lost it by serving wide; John Gilling saved another attacking a loose
pass over the net. Finally, it was left to veteran England captain, Alex to
demonstrate his block on Tom and enable the party to present Cup and winners’
medals to his team.
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Malory setter, Richard Dobell was selected as Most Valuable Player for his
all-round play and especially his quality setting. His only disappointment
will be that three-week old son Cameron slept through his triumph.
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