It’s a sorry end to a tough season for TSW
SATURDAY was the culmination of a very difficult season for Team South Wales, which saw the team lose one key player after the next in a series of serious injuries that seemed endless and at times meant the team had to forfeit a game due to not having a substitute.
TSW ended the regular season in seventh out of eight positions and faced Oxford this weekend, who are runners-up from Division One and in a play-off for the last remaining place in the Super 8s next season, at the National Volleyball Centre in Kettering.
The match was a replay of last year’s play-off between TSW and Oxford, which ended 3-0 to TSW. However, this year Oxford came hungry for the win and relishing the chance to redress the balance. TSW arrived with a grim determination to give their all in the last fight of a very tough season.
The first set saw TSW take an early lead of 8-3 at the first technical timeout, with Oxford making a lot of unforced errors and seeming nervous. TSW remained in the lead until 17 all, after Oxford managed to claw their way back into the game and edge ahead.
TSW were not about to let the set it slip, however, and the teams fought hard for every ball and took turns taking points off each other. At 25 all, the tension was palpable but through some clever serves and blocks, Oxford finally managed to secure the twopoint lead that won them the set, 27-25.
In the second set, Oxford clearly showed the confidence they had gained from winning the first set and continued to press their advantage through consistently hard and high attacks from their very tall wing players. The TSW block and back-court defence struggled to find a response to the Oxford wing offensive and Oxford exploited that very effectively and won the second set 25-21.
Before the third set, TSW coach Castro fired up his players and sent them on court with the firm belief that this set was theirs for the taking. Oxford, on the other hand, eyed their opportunity for a Super 8s place next season keenly, and were determined to hold on to their advantage and not let their chance slip by.
Although the third set saw some long rallies and hard fought points, in the end Oxford were more successful at translating their hunger and determination into points and they won the third set 25-16, and thereby the match 3-0.
Although this result means that next season, TSW will play in the National Division One, it will be with the clear and realistic aim of gaining promotion, that is, re-entry into the Super 8s at the end of the season, as both existing TSW players return from injury and the TSW squad is joined by new players, such as two former England juniors in their first senior year of national league volleyball.
TSW is sponsored by CM Utilities Ltd, runs a youth section, and welcomes new players! Contact can be made via teamsouthwales.wix.com/ volleyball or via the team’s Facebook page.