Newbury Volleyball BVA Men’s Division 2 Match Report 13.03.11


A powerful Oxford squad beat third placed Didcot in the opening leg of this triangular fixture 25-9 and 25-16.


Newbury v Oxford

The league leaders were made to show Newbury considerable respect as the home team threatened to win the first set. Oxford are always technically proficient and well organised. They used their effective first receive to launch precise attacks. However, Newbury are seldom short of aerial power and read the plays well to block superbly, roofing out countless dangerous spikes.

Marek Stepan and Mike Davies denied Oxford’s hitters and although the visitors transitioned the loose ball their whole attack was driven back towards the three metre line making it difficult to get the ball down quickly and allowing Newbury to launch their own attacks.

Dave Godden was agile and alert in Newbury’s back court and able to transition quickly into a reliable swing attack. Richard Cottle, playing setter, caressed the ball around to spectacular effect, conjuring clean kills from Troy Tilley on the reverse cross court and next moment inviting a back court smash from Mark Godden.

Newbury led through forcing Oxford to take two time outs to rebuild their confidence. The visitors elected to not over commit and opted for attrition rather than clean kills. The tactic working and they crawled their way back into the set to snatch it at the last minute 26-24.

They certainly learned their lesson in the second set and their approach was far less swashbuckling and much more workmanlike. They were able to craft enough openings in put the pressure onto Newbury’s back court. Although the home team could still claim to have won the battle at the net, their own attacks now lacked the early potency and Oxford’s steady approach gradually steered them towards a 25-15 win.


Newbury v Didcot

Newbury used their disappointment in the previous game to devastating effect against Oxfordshire’s other club. They unleashed a relentless barrage on their own service, whilst clinically receiving the Didcot serve and scoring first strikes on 90%. Newbury overwhelmed the visitors 25-10.






Didcot rearranged in the interval and gave a much better account of themselves in the second set. Newbury were perhaps a bit guilty of taking their foot of the gas and over elaborating using combination attacks. Though not always in front the home team were always in control and orchestrated by Richard Cottle’s silky skills, won the second set 25-22. Newbury’s influential setter took the ‘man of the match’ award in both games. Oxford look to have the league won but Newbury look a good bet to finish runners up.

Posted by Richard on Monday, 04.18.11 @ 20:49pm | #11

Newbury Volleyball BVA Men’s Division 2 Match Report 20.02.11


Spikeopaths 2 beat Farnborough Hawks 25-20 and 25-15 in a pulsating first leg of this weekend’s triangular fixture.


Newbury v Spikeopaths 2

Newbury struggled to find their rhythm to start with against a Reading side that defended the back court well. The home team’s serve receive worked well enough and Alex Whitehead’s distribution from setter was excellent. Spikeos blocked well forcing Newbury to hit from further off the net than they would have liked. The result was they had difficulty grounding the ball and with Reading’s solid back court were drawn into trading long winded points.

Good serving enabled Newbury to sustain pressure and defensively they began to deny Spikeos space. Stuart McCulley and Richard Cottle began to pepper the line, when the set was wide enough and found some oblique cross court angles to stretch the visitors. Gradually Newbury reeled in Spikeos early lead and passed them at 17-17. Once ahead they were able to find a greater variety of hitting, using Tory Tilley behind the set. Spikeos were unable to cover everything and went down 25-19.

Newbury warmed to their task in the second set and improved their first ball. This opened up the middle of the net for Jerry Sutherland and Mike Davies to thump home some impressive kills. Having established an early lead Newbury went for the throat with combination hits to take out the block and Spikeos back court was constantly overloaded.

16 year old Newbury Junior Academy player Alex Whitehead now had total control and was able to disguise his set to confuse the opponents block. Newbury hitters often found no-one at home and raked in the free points, storming the second set 25-12. Alex Whitehead was given his first most valuable player award.















Newbury v Farnborough

Newbury produced a totally focussed display against the Hampshire team. The early exchanges were fairly even though Farnborough were unable to launch much convincing attack. Mike Davies got through an impressive amount of blocking and Jerry Sutherland thumped in some heavy kills, to make life difficult for the visitors. An impressive seven points from Newbury’s demon server Richard Cottle, destroyed any hope the Hampshire side had of recovering and Newbury closed out the first set 25-11.

Stuart McCulley gave way to another Newbury Junior Jordan Ayres in the second set and he was soon soaring through the air to crush down some explosive strikes. Newbury’s middle hitters began to launch combination attacks with the outside players and all hell was let loose against the struggling Hampshire team.

Although the visitors desperately tried to cover the floor they were often caught like rabbits in the headlights as the home side offered no quarter, landing bombs from all angles. Newbury were simply majestic, everything they touched worked well and they finished the set 25-10.

These two victories take Newbury back to the top of the division, though Oxford have games in hand. Two of these are against Newbury and will provide a grandstand finish to the season.

Posted by Richard on Monday, 04.18.11 @ 20:45pm | #9

Berkshire Volleyball Association Men’s League Division Two 23.01.11


Newbury v Spikeopaths

Newbury Men handed debuts to two U18 Academy players as they took on Spikeopaths in Didcot on Saturday. Both Will Clarkson and Ed Cave have been training with the club a couple of years and gave a good account of themselves. The Reading side got off to the better start as Newbury fought for consistency and fluidity.

Newbury setter Colin Underhay made good use of passes to him and set to the more experienced hitters. Stuart McCulley and Troy Tilley kept the Reading side busy in defence but Newbury were seven points adrift at one point. Calling a time out, they opted for a simple direct game which paid dividends. Steady pressure unnerved Spikeos and Newbury latched on to every mistake, edging ahead to win the first set 25-22.

Psychologically losing such lead undermined Spikeos self belief in the second set. Richard Cottle squeezed the life out of attacks through the middle of the court. Ed Cave began to score regularly and Will Clarkson prevented several attacks from being grounded in the back court. Newbury were now a fully functioning unit and in no mood to concede unnecessary points and ran out worthy winners of the second set 25-21.

Didcot then beat Spikeos 25-19 and 26-24 set up a fascinating final leg of this triangular fixture.


Didcot v Newbury

A full a strength Didcot packed with NVL experience came out firing on all cylinders as they dominated the early exchanges. Having done their homework they clearly targeted Newbury’s less experienced players in the serve receive and the visitor’s struggle to mount a meaningful attack. At 13-3 down, Newbury used a time out wisely and nearly managed to match Didcot’s scoring in the second half of the set, but still went down 25-12.

The visitors’ determination shone in the second set as they set to with a will swapping points all the way. Again both Newbury’s youngsters proved their worth providing a reliable outlet when the West Berks side were under pressure.








Newbury won the blocking battle but one of Didcot’s strengths is recycling ball and setting up secondary attacks. The game became a series of long hard fought points with neither side giving quarter. Even at 24-23 down Newbury refused to give lost causes including a sensational rescue by Richard Cottle who dived in from the back line to pick up right under the net when all seemed lost. A kill down the line from Troy Tilley bought the score s level at 24-24 but Didcot managed to squeeze out the last two points and win the set 26-24.

Posted by Dave Godden on Monday, 03.7.11 @ 18:12pm | #7

Mens Match 31/10/10

The mens team were at home against Didcot and Farnborough.

The new team gelled well together under the control of National League setter Davide
Petraccini, he completely dominated the first set by serving 14 winning points in a row
leaving Farnborough sat there like startled rabbits. Newbury took a convincing win of
25-6.

In the second set Newbury were confident to replace Davide with a young academy
player 15 year old Jordan Ayres who stepped straight up to the challenge by pushing
Newbury into an 8 point lead with his accurate serving. There was great support in the
form of back court passing from Rajiv Surve and Marek Stepan allowing Jordan to vary
his sets to the other players. Newbuy took the set 25-12.

Marek Stepan was awarded most valued player.

The next game was against Didcot, who appeared in the warm up to have a couple of
stronger hitters. It was time to utilise the bold middle blockers of Jacek Fajkis and Mike
Davies. Newbury relied on its defense to either halt the ball at the net or get good pick
ups from back court. Another academy player Alex Whitehead revelled in the volley of
reverse sets he received from the setter, he surprised the opposition with his cross court
left handed hits.

Newbury won the match 25-19, 25 – 17

Davide Petracinni was awarded most valuable player

Team Davide Petracinni, Mike Davies, Jecek Fajkis, Rajiv Surve, Marek Stepan,
Jordan Ayres, Alex Whitehead.

Posted by Dave Godden on Tuesday, 11.2.10 @ 09:40am | #4

NVC have a new system for match reports! Please check here for match reports and team news.

Posted by Dave Godden on Thursday, 10.21.10 @ 10:14am | #1