What should have been on paper Riga’s ninth win in succession turned
into a crushing defeat at the hands of second from bottom Wolverhampton on their home
turf. This was Riga’s chance to go clear at the top of Division 2 at the half way
point and there was no doubt that the pressure had been building on the Warwick girls.
Many of the Wolverhampton contingent were from the original Birmingham 1st
Division Team that Riga’s Coach Tom Young managed for 8 years so they were psyched up
and determined to do well. |
| From the very
first point, when libero, Lynette Purkis, put her hand to a ball that was sailing out,
Riga’s card seem marked. Wolverhampton channelled their aggression well and blocked
every Riga attack. Riga’s back court defence was slow to react, and when eventually
they did, players were going for the same ball and getting out of position. Nothing went
right for Riga - the back court struggled with the hard serving from Wolverhampton
consequently setter, Young, was trying to mount attacks from deep in court. Big middle
hitter Sarah Pochin failed to perform, her confidence dented by the dominant blocking of
the opposition’s Karen Bett and Sally Jones. |
 Even the Lord of the Youngs has trouble finding the magic
formula! |
| The first set
went to Wolverhampton 25 - 14 with Riga hardly breaking sweat such was the lack of
movement on their part. The second set started badly as the opposition upped the intensity
and sensed how tense the Riga players were. Tactical dumps had McCarthy and Purkis diving
in desperation but to no avail. Despite some strong hitting from Marinella Cadoni, Riga
struggled to finish the rallies outright and the rub of the green was definitely going
Wolves’ s way as they took the second set 25 - 20. |
 Riga attack! |
At 6 - 1 up in the
third, Coach Tom Young, was thinking his team had finally got their act together until a
side out brought Wolverhampton back to 6 all as once again the back court play
disintegrated under pressure. Peryer came on for a despondent Pochin and immediately won
back serve with a well placed hit through the middle. It was nip and tuck as Riga fought
hard to get some kind of rhythm to their play. McCarthy sent the ball wide of the base
line at 20 -19 with what should have been an easy hit and Riga’s chance to steal the
set evaporated at that point. Wolverhampton capitalised on the opportunity and pounded the
serves at the shaky Riga defence and were soon on match point - the last rally mirrored
the very first with yet another unforced error this time from the Riga setter as the ball
failed to make it over the net and Wolves rejoiced at what was clearly their win of the
season so far. |
| Tom Young was
philosophical afterwards as he tried to lift his inconsolable players "it’s a
different kind of pressure that builds up trying to hold onto an unbeaten record - the
valve’s been turned and released a bit of that pressure - we need to learn from this
today, we played badly but still managed to reach 20 in two sets. They were up for it - we
weren’t, we thought we had it in the bag. We’ll be ready for them and stronger
mentally for the return match at home in January". Riga
are still a comfortable second to Dulwich Tuskers and face a busy January with
Loughborough on the 13th away, and Wolverhampton in the league and the quarter
finals of the cup against top team Malory on the weekend of the 19th and 20th
at St Nicholas Park Leisure Centre. |
 Down but not quite out ... yet |
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