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Looking to bounce back from the 3-0 defeat by Malory, Riga were looking for a
swift victory over a young Newcastle Staffs side in preparation for Sheffield
the next day. Things didn't start well !!!!!! A powerful hitting warm up by
Riga did not dampen the Staffs spirit who started the set in impressive style.
Following an early exchange of points, Riga fell behind with a a run of serves
from Drijfhout forcing Riga into an early time out trailing 2-7. Riga
regrouped, stopped the run of serves and were briefly back in touch in the set.
However things did not improve greatly with a Staffs side that was playing well
and seeming to find the smallest of holes in the Riga block. Strong jump
serving from Newcastle's N. Masters extended their lead to 18-11 despite Riga
having several chances to side-out.
With Warwick way behind the pace of the game Staffs took the 1st set
comfortably 16:25, leaving Warwick dejected and needing a much better
performance in the second set if they were going to compete. |
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The second set was a repeat of set 1 with Staffs taking the set 16:25 following
good serving from Drijfhout and more Riga errors. Riga were not firing and not
holding their serve and allowing Staffs to score apparently with ease. With
Riga in disarray and two sets down something special would be needed to stop
the match from turning into a 3-0 whitewash.
Both teams started set 3 very cautiously with each team siding out
comfortably. A nervousness was starting to creep into the faces of the
Newcastle team who were beginning to make a few mistakes. The Riga engine was
finally up and running and started to string points together with good blocking
and hitting from Kees De Hoogh who was hitting in an air space clear of all
Staffs hands. With Staffs unable to cope with the Riga onslaught, Riga took the
set 25-18. |
 De Hoogh : Hitting in space!
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The fourth Set went much like the 3rd with both teams trading points equally in
the early stages of the game. However with a good Riga pass, Wyles was able to
run his offence clinically fooling the Staffs block giving the Riga hitters
only 1 pair of hands to beat on many occasions. Good finishing from Andy Carr
and Ed Ekanem gave Riga the edge and we began to push into early but slender
lead.
Riga were able to find the floor with no difficulty. John Gilling not only
hitting well was winning points with impressive one-on-one blocking in the
middle. At 17-14 up Riga brought on Chris Anderson to serve and to sure up the
back court. From here Riga started to accelerate away as the Staffs team fell
into dismay. Riga team spirit was high and they took the 4th set 25-16. |
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The 5th set turned out to be a clinical performance with Riga clocking one
point after another. At the turn around Riga were 8-3 up and didn't look back.
Dan Turnbull was connecting well with Wyles and Kees De Hoogh was hiding the
court from Staffs with several stuff blocks on Staffs' David Lovell. With the
Riga revival complete the 5th set was won 15-6.
A game that Riga were hoping would be an easy 3-0 win, with a tough game
against Sheffield to follow the next day, turned out to be a long hard
struggle. In the first two sets Staffs dominated the match with some excellent
plays run by Ex-Loughborough setter John Pennock. Riga didn't get fired up
until the middle of third set probably giving coach Tom Young a few small heart
attacks on the way. Riga will be looking to continue against Sheffield as they
finished knowing any slip up against the young talented side will surely have a
different outcome |