UBVC to be Represented in National Cup Finals for 2nd Season Running
Monday 8th March 2010
The mens squad will be looking for success in the shield final.
UBVC will have a team at the National Cup finals weekend for the second season running after the Mens NVL team were able to win their semi final of the KO shield. Following early defeats in the National Cup for both teams involved, such a feat did not seem likely however after battling from a set down against Boathouse Dewsbury on Saturday, the men saw their hopes of making the final become a reality
The success of the mens team in the shield this season comes after seeing the women reach the national cup final last season. The success in the knock out competitions again shows the distance the clubs teams has come in the past few years and the men will now hope to bring the silverware home with them from London.
The run in the shield has seen the men take on unknown quantities from the London League, travel to Middlesbrough on a cold Sunday morning and now beat one of only 2 teams to beat them so far this season. However in order to win the shield the men must now beat the other of those 2 teams and the team that knocked them out of the National Cup in the first match of the season, SGTV Solent from division 2. The match will take place at Crystal Palace, on April 24th at 10am.
After an indifferent season last year, coach Graham Fowler has been able to get the men playing with new found consistency. Captain Carl Butcher said "It is a great achievment for the team to make the final. We will now prepare for the final and hopefully go to London and bring the shield to Birmingham"
The qualification for the final follows the women's BUCS team making the trophy finals in Sheffield in a season which again promises great things for UBVC. The weekend also saw success in other leagues with the Women's NVL 1st team taking another step towards the super 8's with a win away at Coventry and Warwick Riga and the Men's Regional 1st team get a crucial win in their battle for survival with a 3-2 home win against Persian Phoenix. UBVC congratulates all those who participated in matches this weekend and thanks the players for their continuing commitment to the success of the club.
If you would like to support the men in the shield final please contact a member of the committee or alternatively find the details at www.volleyballengland.org.