Intra-club rivalries

The first game of the season and already a grudge match as WEM3 faced with the new Ernest Bevin White Eagles, or WEM4, coached by John Lowney.

Set 1
WEM4 serve to start, points are nervously traded, with WEM3 pulling ahead, only for WEM4 to catch back up. A run of good serves by WEM4 and they pick up 4 points (A ISATOIRGE) then 5 more with the next rotation (J WELLINGTON) and leapfrog WEM3 into a 19-13 lead. But WEM3 come straight back with a 7 point run, only to lose 3 points and WEM4 are 23-22 up. WEM3 manage to get to 24 but can't make the final push, and WEM4 seal the set 26-24.

Set 2
A positive WEM3 take to the court, bringing on the experience of Pablo MEJIA in 4. From the serve a clear 6 point lead is taken (Arnaud CAURRAZE), and WEM3 are fired up, with impressive hitting from Spencer WONG. Points are traded, then WEM3 lift themselves, cutting out the mistakes, with a run of 7 points from WONG and WEM4 are in trouble 18-5 down. Two more rotations and WEM3 take the set 25-10.

Set 3
Even sets and both teams know how important it is to take the initiative. Coach Sarah Whitley makes a change to the WEM3 team, bringing on Greg BAILEY through the middle, and points are traded for five rotations, leaving WEM3 9-7 up. The increasingly confident WEM3 - with serving again from WONG - embark on an unprecedented run, capitalising on mistakes from WEM4, and take point after point. Even the tumble of MEJIA (and replacement by Nigel TOUCH) can't halt the progress and WEM3 take 16 points in a row to close the set 25-7.

Set 4
A buoyant WEM3 come on and play with enjoyment. Gradually, points are taken and WEM3 build a lead, while keeping the opposition down to a few points per serve, with WEM3 pushing on to finish the set 25-16 winners.


Overall WEM3 played a good game with fewer and fewer mistakes, good solid serving and consistent (if not always spectacular) hitting. The team showed some moments of good blocking, but the receiving was somewhat miced. The real test for this team will come when they face an opposition that make fewer mistakes with more determined hitting.

WEM3 beat WEM4 3-1 (26-24 25-10 25-7 25-16)

SQUAD

WEM3

Arnaud CAURRAZE (captain)
Pablo MEJIA
Nigel TOUCH
Greg BAILEY
Lukasz HABIERSKI
Andrew FRIGOT
Brian WOJTOWYCZ
Spencer WONG

Sarah WHITLEY (coach)

WEM4

A IVANOV
A AHAMD
O BAUMAN
A ISATOIRGE
G FARQUHARSCR
T SPENCER
D DONEGAN
S OJOMON
R ASHATH
J WELLINGTON

John LOWNEY (coach)