(11/03/2000)
The glint in the eye of Warwick Riga captain Tom Young showed recognition of a job well done and the reflection of prospective silverware after Saturday's three-nil Shield victory over Sikh Temple at the St. Nicholas Park Leisure Centre, Warwick. The result books Riga's first ever place in a National semi-final and adds spice to their end of season campaign.
Warwick entered the match against Second Division Temple as favourites and when they opened up a 9 - 3 lead in the first set that status looked assured. The home side's John Gilling and Richard Meade were irrepressible at this stage. However, Temple are an awkward side to play against and as they proved time and again in the match they are not to be underestimated.. They reduced the deficit to just two points before Dan Showler and Graham Duckett re-established Riga's dominance. The set closed with a typical Gilling power finish at 25 - 21.
The second set started tightly as Temple matched their higher grade opponents point for point. Visitors' captain Rav Khela proved to be a handful for the Warwick defence and an inspiration to his side. Eventually something would have to give and through Gilling, Showler and Duckett it was the Temple defence. Once Riga had opened up a lead, Temple were always second best and so it proved as the set ended 25 - 21.
The third set saw the return to first team action of Ben Bunn and the debut of Tim Bugg for the home team. Once Temple's short-lived lead had been overturned, there was little doubt as to the end result as Warwick's lead stretched by leaps and bounds. The conclusion came with a combined Bunn, Gilling and Duckett block that stuffed out Temple's Khela and snuffed out his side 25 - 19.
"Sikh Temple proved they can be the difficult team we knew they could be but I never thought we would be in trouble," commented captain Tom Young afterwards. "A semi-final place is great but a place in the Final is even better - and that's our aim."
However before claiming any further trophy glory, Riga must return to League action and the small matter of ensuring their National League Division One status for another year. 2000 has seen them win only one League match and although not in dire trouble, the side is in need of another couple of wins. These should come at the weekend when they play Birmingham on Saturday (6pm) and Crofton on Sunday (2pm), both at the St. Nicholas Park Leisure Centre, Warwick. Both sets of visitors are fighting for survival themselves as they currently occupy the bottom two places in the League. Victory for Warwick on each occasion will not only secure their future but condemn their visitors to relegation. Having beaten both teams in their previous encounters this season and with home advantage, Riga should be sitting pretty come the end of Sunday.