Opponents: Leeds & Gateshead
Date: Saturday 4th and Sunday 5th November
Result: 3-1 Win in both games
Headline: Docklands Maintain Unbeaten Run
Author: Andy Vincett

London Docklands Volleyball Club remained unbeaten at the top of the National League Division 2 after last weekend's double victory away to Leeds and Gateshead. But they sacrificed their previously unblemished record by dropping a set to each of the host sides

In time Docklands may look back at this weekend and be pleased to have taken all six points because, like the stereotyped, ever-grey cities the Londoners visited, their performances were uninspired, unimaginative and just about sufficed .

ISaturday's six-pointer against a previously unbeaten Leeds could have been a real banana skin after the home team won the opening set. But despite Docklands continually throwing away their momentum with errors that would provoke a match-fixing inquiry had the final result been different, the visitors managed to do enough to take the following three sets to close out the game.

Sunday's game in Gateshead was surely going to see lessons learned and a Gateshead side, without a win this year, destroyed by Docklands in a manner as unrelenting as a 100-year flood.

Not so. Gateshead resisted. Again Docklands play flowed like a dripping tap and they would be "embarrassed" by losing the first set to the northerners. LDVC coach Legrand berated his team saying their opponents "Didn't deserve to be in the same gym" as his team.

Legrand was surely referring to Dockland's superior fitness, technique and tactics all of which were apparent in pulling the travelling team through to eventually win the game 1-3 with Tim Odele shining on his first start of the season.

London Docklands did not play well this weekend but as Sir Alex Ferguson may say: 'The mark of Champions is to get results when you are not at your best.' And last weekend that's exactly what Docklands did.