(03/11/2001)
When you’re 150 miles from home, four players light from a full squad and during the match, you lose one of the only players you haven’t got back-up for, then to come away with victory is a significant achievement. That was the Riga story in their three-one triumph over Wessex in National League Division One last Saturday.
Other commitments and injury deprived Riga of the services of Richard Meade, Mark Fearn, Colin Paterson and Mark Bottomley, yet the team quickly established a useful lead over their hosts in the first set. Wessex danger man Danny Weemes made his presence felt early in the game but solid replies from John Gilling and Tom Spijkers had Riga in the driving seat at 8 - 5. Strong serving from the visitors had Wessex in disarray and with Gilling having his best match of the season, the destiny of the set was never in doubt. When David Nason added his weight to the visiting attack, victory was soon claimed 25 - 15.
Wessex started the second set in more resilient mood and competition was fierce. Then just as Riga looked to be leaving their starting blocks, David Nason fell awkwardly at the net and the resulting ankle injury forced his retirement from the match. Despite having substitute Graham Duckett on court in an unfamiliar middle role, Riga still broke free of their hosts. A slender two-point gap was gained and maintained by Gilling and Spijkers. With the score at 17 - 16 to Riga another victory was on the cards but then a disastrous bout of service reception handed the #initiative and a substantial lead to Wessex. With hardly murmur of protest, Riga succumbed 25 - 18.
A hastily reshuffled pack saw captain Tom Young switch to the problem middle position and Duckett revert to his more normal role as outside hitter. The change had an instant impact on the visitors’ fortunes as they swung into a 10 - 6 lead. With Riga’s tails now up, bottom-but-one club Wessex were made to pay for their temerity in taking the second set. Gilling, Kees de Hoogh and Duckett all shone as Riga bounced back to take the set 25 - 17.
Although Wessex went 4 - 2 up at the start of the fourth set, it only seemed to re-awaken the Riga giant. Pressure serving from Phil Wyles exposed a fragile Wessex reception and when Weemes became error-prone, Wessex were just about dead and buried. At 17 - 10 Riga stoked up the boilers even more and Wessex made their escape from purgatory at 25 - 15.
"I haven’t played in the middle for ten years," said veteran skipper Tom Young afterwards, “and I quite enjoyed it, especially as we beat Wessex so convincingly in the end. But I don’t think I’ll be making it a late career move. Unbeaten now in five. Fantastic!"