VOLLEYBALL: ELLESMERE Port Eels started the weekend with a comfortable win against North West rivals City of Preston in the National League.
Without playing particularly well, Eels were able to give their entire squad a run-out in taking the match three sets to nil (28-26, 25-19, 25-19).
Richie Williams, one of four Welshmen in the squad, was Eels' MVP despite playing with a sprained ankle.
Unbeaten Sheffield Hallam were always going to be a tougher challenge. The first set could have gone either way with little separating the scores throughout.
Sheffield had set point at 24-23 but Eels hung on, only to eventually lose the set 27-25.
The second set followed a similar pattern but this time it was Eels who triumphed, coming from 20-18 down to win 25-23.
The third set saw Eels start disastrously, going 6-0 down, but they turned things around to force Sheffield to call a timeout when their lead was reduced to 13-12.
The set remained close at 22-21 to Sheffield until a poor period by Eels led to Sheffield taking the four points they needed for the set, 25-21.
The fourth set saw Eels remain in contention until a run of seven points to Sheffield gave them a significant 16-9 advantage following a period when Eels were unable to beat the Sheffield block.
While Eels were not out of it, they needed to play errorless volleyball to pull things around but contrived to make three serving errors that effectively killed their chances, allowing Sheffield to cruise home 25-16.
England junior Sam Booth was Eels' MVP as they remain on top of the table, but this is expected to change once Sheffield play their games in hand.
Eels' first team are next in action on Saturday, November 13 at Whitby High School against top North West side City of Salford in the second round of the National Cup (12.30pm). Eels' Ladies retained the Merseyside Open Tournament, matching the men's performance of the previous weekend to win the Des Jeffers Cup.
Eels secured success without losing a match in their five qualifying games and by defeating rivals Wirral in a close-run final.
Eels' link with Whitby School was strengthened by the fact that Whitby players Lynsey Wayman and Bev Henning were part of the winning Eels' team.
Eels' ladies play tonight at home to Whitby at Chester County Officers and tomorrow at home to Bridgewater of Warrington at Whitby High School (7pm).
Eels' men stayed unbeaten in the Merseyside League as they travelled to Crewe & Alsager College on Friday.
Ex-Salford National League player Steve Greenhall made his Merseyside League debut for the Eels and played his part in an impressive 25-18, 25-15, 25-16 win.
Ukrainian Sasha Skydan was Eels' MVP with a dominating hitting performance through the left wing.
