This Is Guernsey

IT WAS a frustrating night for many teams in the OSA Recruitment Leagues last Friday. The first match was disappointing for the improving ASL1 squad as they failed to push Savills 1 at all. With weak digging, their setters were always under pressure.

ASL did start the third set better and led for a few points, but even though Savills fielded two of their second-team players, they cruised to a comfortable 3-0 win.

Val Goodwin will be urging a much more spirited effort from her squad for their remaining games in order to finish their season positively.

Meanwhile, the second teams from each of these clubs met in their own encounter in a closely fought game.

ASL2 took the lead early on in the first set and looked the more confident team, with solid three-touch volleyball. Jo Smeed was particularly strong through the middle.

The agile Savills girls picked up some unexpected balls, making ASL2 work harder than expected. They made many unforced errors and Savills took the set 25-19.

The second looked like a sure win for Savills, until Smeed served a run of deep serves, penetrating Savills’ back row and forcing errors.

However, ASL2 were not able to shake off their own unforced errors and Savills took the set 25-20.

In the third set, ASL 2 lost their rhythm completely and even captain Lauri Slimm, who played a very steady game, couldn’t inspire them.

Great serving throughout from player of the match Dani Stevens, plus excellent blocks from Claire Green and hitting from Liz Pang, ensured the straight-sets win for Savills.

The inter-club NashCopy clash went the distance, although it was certainly a game of two halves.

Gestetner struggled with their digging thanks to good serving from NashCopy Red’s Julia Webber.

The Reds controlled most of the first set until Gestetner woke up during the latter stages, working better as a unit to put their first team under pressure with solid spiking and serving to take the set.

Gestetner continued confidently into the second and, with fine serving from Carla Martel and Donna Cave, they soon led.

NashCopy lacked movement around the court, while Gestetner threw themselves at everything and soon also had the second set under their belts.

However, they seemed to turn off in the third, allowing NashCopy back into the game. Karen Jehan’s long, hard serves caused Gestetner problems and they fell to pieces, giving the opposition the third.

The fourth followed much the same pattern, but a determined NashCopy side rallied hard and with player of the match Jo Turville finding her range, they forced the game into a fifth-set decider.

Gestetner were a different team in the fifth, racing into an early lead and continually putting the Reds under pressure.

Reds had no reply and with Theron thumping the ball deep into the court, they lost 15-7.

Both NashCopy Red and Gestetner will have to up their game if they are going to beat the ever-steady Savills and the Reds will have their chance this week, but will have to show a marked improvement.

In the only men’s match of the evening, Savills 2 took on Orchard PR. With their passing much improved from last week, Savills 2 found themselves controlling the first set with relative ease, making full use of a variety of attacking options.

This was further helped by Orchard’s inconsistency -they made too many mistakes, especially in backcourt.

However, Orchard had the better start in the second set, opening a 6-0 lead thanks to the serves of Dave Northrop, but Savills soon returned the favour with a series of serves and solid play at the net.

Orchard mixed the play to try to throw their opposition’s concentration, but could not build consistent three-touch volleyball regularly enough to make inroads into the Savills lead.

With Tom Kimber finding Troy Bodie through the middle and Darren Holden enjoying a good stint outside, Savills eventually took the set relatively comfortably.

In the third set Savills’ coach Jon Marley replaced experience with youth and the players rewarded the coach’s trust with a solid performance and intelligent play.

Although Orchard fought hard to keep in the match, they could not clinch the set.

The younger players certainly showed their worth in both sides and the player the match was awarded to Nick Gaudion of Orchard PR for his hard work throughout.