NVL Men - Danes (A) Match Report 2009-10

Tendring Volleyball Club Clinch Title from Rivals

Tendring 3 -2 Danes Watford
16-25, 25-23, 25-22, 14-25, 15-13

Report by Neil Masters

So it came down to the biggest match of the season. Danes needed to
win this match and hope that Tendring would lose their other 2
remaining matches. Tendring wanted to win this match and celebrate
winning their first senior title if front of their rivals. This was
going to be an intense fixture.

Tendring were put under huge pressure right from the start and Danes
applied such intensity that Tendring found it very hard to keep up
with them. The set became very 1 sided with Danes winning point after
point and Tendring struggling to penetrate Danes’ defence. Danes won
the first set 25-16 a real hammering for the Champions elect. Set 2
began in the most controversial manner with the referees failing to
take charge of the match. This played straight into Tendring’s hands
as Danes’ rhythm was destroyed. Intelligent hitting from Seb Widlardz
compounded Danes’ misery and Tendring looked like the true leaders of
the league. However, it was not going to be an easy win and with the
end of the set in sight Tendring lost a few crucial points.. But again
with good hitting Captain Widlarz won the last point making it 25-23.

With Tendring back in the  match and Danes struggling to find the
tempo that had won the first set, Tendring again took the upper hand.
Both Middle attackers Jamie Everett and Sonny Chaney making a real
impression on this set winning many points with Blocks and hits.
Davies mixed up Tendrings attack and Danes started to struggle to set
their block. With the set in the balance, Joe Cook came onto serve and
Danes could not contain it forcing the set in Tendrings favour 25-22.

With Tendring 1 set away from taking the league outright and the match
going in their favour Tendring found it hard to maintain their
consistency. Danes gained in confidence and everything they seemed to
touch won them a point. With Tendring a long way down in the set
Masters made changes in order for a deciding fifth set. Danes won the
fourth again very convincingly 25-14.

So it came down to the last set (first team to 15 points) and Tendring
were definitely on the back foot but with the experience within the
squad knew that the last set would be won and lost on 1 or 2 points.
Tendring came out battling and took a very early 7-3 lead and with
every point they won celebrated as if they had won the league. Danes
were not coping well but with the mandatory switching of ends and the
break of play disrupted Tendring. Danes slowly creeping back into it.
At 11 each, the games again became very tight and a very impressive
attack from Danes took them into the lead for the first time in this
set. Tendring knew that now was the time to bring their best game to
the table and impressive defence from Liam Chinnery created
opportunities for Tednring to make it to match point 14-13. A good
solid serve from Everett put Danes under pressure but they managed to
supply their main threat. Tendring’s block was not stable but the
moment must have got to Dane’s attacker who hit hard but too long
giving Tendring the Match. Great celebrations followed with many of
the current team having attended Tendring Technology College and
represented their junior sides helping to win their first senior
trophy.

Janice Porter Award: Sonny Chaney