Warwick Riga v City of Stoke, Men's National League Division 1, 19th January 2002
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Saturday’s National League Division One fixture between
Riga and Stoke gave both teams room for thought ahead of their Cup
semi-final clash in March. Despite Riga taking the match at the St.
Nicholas Park Leisure Centre, Warwick, by three sets to one, Stoke enjoyed
a sizeable piece of the action and they will look to improve on that to
deny Riga their first Cup Final appearance.
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The home side started the match as they had finished in
the Cup against Docklands the previous weekend. An irrepressible John
Gilling took Stoke apart in the opening sequence of points and when Kees de
Hoogh swung into action, Stoke had little to complain about the 17 – 8 score
line. With the solid base of Mark Fearn’s service reception and play-maker
Phil Wyles in outstanding form, Riga soon wrapped up the set 25 – 14, the
coup de grace falling to Tom Spijkers. |
Phil Wyles prepares to set
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There seemed little that Stoke would be able to offer the
second set, so impressive was their hosts’ performance. However the visitors
quickly assumed a 13 – 4 lead as Riga lost their way. Laxness of thought,
prospects of an easy match, an over-elaboration of the attacking moves that
are now edging their way into their pattern of play. Whatever the cause, the
result was a points deficit of Everest proportions. Although they buckled
down to their task, Riga were always on course to lose the set and they duly
succumbed 25 – 19. |
Danny Showler hits through 4
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Set three began in parity before the serving of Richard
Meade and fine net play by Dan Showler had the Riga noses in front 10 – 7.
That was the spur the team needed and from then on, that lead grew by leaps
and bounds. As Stoke gifted points, Spijkers, de Hoogh and Meade ensured
that they paid even more dearly for their mistakes. A triumphant Riga
finally claimed the set 25 – 16. The fourth set had all the makings of a stroll in the
park as Riga opened up a 7 – 1 lead thanks to Wyles, Gilling and Spijkers.
However the home side’s new found fragility once more reared its ugly head
as Stoke drew level at eight apiece. It fell to de Hoogh, Meade and Showler
to force Riga ahead again and having given the crowd its fright for the
night, it was a lead they never relinquished. When Spijkers cracked down two
successive spikes to secure a 19 – 13 lead, the match was as good as over.
Although Stoke were allowed to achieve some degree of respectability at the
close, the game was secured at 25 – 22. |
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"It was a good win," said injured captain Tom Young
afterwards, "but we should have finished them off after that first set
performance. They’ll be going home thinking that with a player or two back
in their side they can take us in the semi. We’ll just have to prove it to
them all over again." |
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The win does mean Riga stay in third place in the table
but thoughts are still on the runners-up slot. To achieve that, the side
must remain unbeaten for the rest of the season which makes a good result on
Saturday against bottom-of-the-table Leeds just as important as victory over
second-placed Portsmouth in March. The Yorkshire side, promoted this season,
has struggled to make the grade in the top flight. Without a win so far,
they lost three-nil to Riga earlier in the season. Their visit to the St.
Nicholas Park Leisure Centre, Warwick (6pm) will hardly be one they will
look forward to. "We’ve been where Leeds are in seasons past but Saturday’s
no time for sympathy," says Young who hopes to return to action during the
match, "it’s time for another win if we want second place." |
Mark "Sparky" Fearn with man of the match, Tom Spijkers
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Click here for more photos of the
match |
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