NVL Men Bristol (A) Match Report 2010-11

Tendring Beat Competition

3-1 (25-22, 25-14, 23-25, 15-13)

Report by Neil Master

Tendring's match with City of Bristol was a daunting prospect. A 4 hour travel time to the venue and the challenge of the third placed team would give most teams cause for concern.

Tendring travelled with nearly their full squad & in high spirits. The advantage in the first set swung several times with Bristol gaining a good advantage as they reached the latter stages of the set. Tendring introduced Ben Wilson into the fray whose passing stabilised Tendring and gave Nick Davies & Sonny Chaney the platform to bring the sides level. Big hitting from captain Sebastian Widlarz & Alex Porter proved too much for Bristol & Tendring stole the first set 25-23.

Bristol looked broken and as their service pressure decreased Liam chinnery created opportunities for Tendring to attack, with great receiving. Tendring ran out easy winners 25-14. Bristol were always going to be hard to finish off & in a set that Tendring never really exerted their dominance, Bristol managed to maintain a 2 point lead from start to finish. Bristol winning 25-23. In a bizarre circumstance Bristol's best player was forced to leave for work. Despite this Tendring knew that they needed to be clinical to avoid a nerve racking final set.

Stuart Dove and Joe Cook were instrumental in the demolition of Bristol the 4th set. Dove's hitting & Cooks blocking combined with a great service run from Chaney, allowed Tendring to stroll to the finish line, 25-13. All that faced Tendring was the 4 hour return journey, but at least it was a jubilant one.

Tendring's next match is Sunday the 28th, 5.30 start & all important cup match on the 4th December 11.30 both at TTC Frinton Campus