The Riga girls took another step closer to what looks like inevitable Division One play offs, dispensing with Bristol 3 sets to 1 at the weekend.

However they didn’t get off to a convincing start losing the first set 25-23. Michelle Lynam, standing in for suspended setter Liz Young, showed a few nerves with inconsistent setting, matched with equally shaky performances from hitters Marinella Cadoni and Dawn Woolmer. Coach Tom Young ran out of patience calling a timeout at 20-23. With ears nipping, Riga went back out and drew level thanks to blistering serving from captain, Rachael McCarthy. But Bristol retaliated with two searing attacks to claim the set.

The second set saw a transformed Riga. The attacks started to flow as libero, Lynette Purkis, fed ball after ball into Lynam. McCarthy and Cadoni found their hitting arms and some solid, consistent serving put Riga back in contention, finishing the set 25-11.

Bristol bounced back in the third, with their Italian setter sending the Riga back courts sprawling to pick up her tactical second touch balls. Young brought Jayne Warman on for Cadoni, who made an immediate impact picking up some unbelievable balls giving Riga the boost they needed and the crucial points to steal the set 25-23.

Riga looked confident in the fourth and were never threatened. Bristol made error after error handing Riga the set 25-18 and the match.

Tom Young said "It wasn’t our best performance but at this stage in the season nerves play a major part and the team did well to hold it together".

Riga need one win from their last two games to guarantee 2^nd place and a likely Division One play off against Tonbridge, who they defeated early in the season.