Tendring 3-1 Newbury

25-23, 25-13 22-25, 25-17

Report by Neil Master

Tendring's power and superiority took them to their second league title in a row. Knowing that a victory against struggling Newbury would be enough to be crowned champions Tendring took as strong a team as possible.

Tendring started nervously and could not get out of first gear.  Newbury led right up to 23-21 but Tendring grasped their chances with excellent blocking by Joe Cook and counter attacking by Neil Masters and Alex Porter, taking 4 points in a row to win by the tightest of margins.

Set 2 Tendring's nerves had subsided and with Sonny Chaney in excellent blocking form destroyed Newbury's attacking options. Ben Wilson, Spencer White-Overton and Mitchell Lawrence were all introduced and extended the lead. Tendring too the set 25-16.

Wilson, White-Overton and Lawrence all kept their places in set 3. With all three combining well with setter Nick Davies Tendring's strength and depth would be the envy of most teams in the national league. Newbury however needed to win this match to avoid relegation. Realising that this was a must win set their bitters started to take more chances and Tendring could not close out the set losing 25-22.

A remarkable run of points occurred in set 4 with Stuart Dove and Joe cook blocking out Newbury's best attacker 5 points in a row. This overturned Newbury's slight advantage placing Tendring in pole position.

With Newbury fighting for survival and Tendring's display improving the set came down to it's last play. Newbury had the first chance to attack but the ball was somehow defended by Liam Chinnery, Dove was in the right place to set up an attack for back court player Wilson. With the opportunity to seal the championship, Wilson swung hard and with confidence to produce a shot that Newbury just could not defend. Tendring's players immediately began their celebrations.

Chinnery's consistent receiving and defensive work won him the Janice Porter award and it was plays by him that set Tendring on their way to their 8th consecutive win.

This has been a remarkable season for Tendring, winning their division and reaching the semi final of the national cup. Only one other team can say this & they will have earned the title of best team in the country.