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Despite claiming an emphatic three-nil victory over close rivals
Portsmouth, Riga look to be losing the race to finish second in National
League Division One. Whilst the cheers of the large crowd still rang
around the St. Nicholas Park Leisure Centre, Warwick, on Saturday, news
filtered through that second-placed London Docklands had beaten Polonia
Ealing to keep their noses in front.
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Riga visit Tooting Aquila in a fortnight’s time knowing that nothing less
than victory will give them any hope of second slot. Docklands on the
other hand look likely to be gifted their match at Portsmouth as the
South Coast side are struggling to field a team and the English
Volleyball Association is refusing to sanction a rearrangement. "We’ve
beaten Docklands twice this season in League and Cup and for second place
to be decide like this is disgusting," claimed a furious captain Tom
Young. "I’ll be making my views very clear to the mandarins in
Nottingham." |
Tom Young getting warmed-up for those mandarins!
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John Gilling attacking through the middle
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However, the defeat of Pompey was
an important step in any attempt for the runners-up position in the
League and victory was achieved with some style. Coming off the back of
three successive away defeats, even if the last two did display a return
to form, the pressure was on Riga to come good on home turf and that they
did.
An early lead was soon accelerated by Young and John Gilling as
Portsmouth were caused all sorts of problems by Kees de Hoogh’s serving.
When Tom Spijkers and de Hoogh, now front court, established Riga 19 – 10
ahead the first set was as good as in the bag. However the dangerous
Marcus Russell, aided and abetted by Ian Towers, capitalised on some home
slackness to give Portsmouth some respectability in a 25 – 20 closure. |
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More slackness characterised the
opening to the second set and Riga soon found themselves 8 – 3 down.
Harsh words at the resulting time-out had the required effect and with
Richard Meade doing little wrong front court and Mark Fearn performing
miracles in defence, Riga were soon on level terms at 12 all. Two service
aces from Phil Wyles then became the catalyst for taking the set. De
Hoogh, Young and Spijkers had the Pompey defence in disarray and despite
the best efforts of ex-England man Russell, Portsmouth were soon on the
ropes. At 25 – 23, after a last hurrah, they were counted out. |
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A 4 – 2 lead in the third set,
gained primarily through Russell, was to be the last time Portsmouth were
ahead in the match. The fine blocking of Meade, together with the power
play of Young and Spijkers, was enough to put Riga in command 16 – 8.
From then on there was only one winner as Riga claimed the set 25 – 18
and with it a deserved victory. |
Richie Meade was in inspired form
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| "It was a cracking game to play in and I’m sure one for the spectators
too," said Young afterwards. "The pressure was on us to perform tonight
and we did just that. We’ve put aside the disappointment of the last few
weeks and shown again what a good side we are. It’s a shame we’ve got to
wait a couple of weeks before our next match. We’re all fired up and
ready to go now." |
Phil sets overhead
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Richie hits through the middle
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Kees and Sparky get a bit tangled up
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A happy Riga team thank the spectators
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