YORKSHIRE CUP FINALS DAY
Sunday 24 February 2008, Oaklands SC, York
Yorkshire Men's Plate Final
York Phoenix 3-2 Harrogate (21-25, 25-17, 19-25, 25-23, 15-13)
A thrilling encounter of epic proportions. A gritty 5 setter that was far too close to call.
Harrogate edged the first set, trailing for the most by just one point but then pushing on at 18-18 to take the set 25-21.
The second was a crucial set for Phoenix; the game was so tight they could not afford to go two down. After a slow start Harrogate pushed on after their first set success and took an early lead. Phoenix took a time out. With a renewed sense of purpose they returned to their task and took the 2nd set 25-17
Not to be out done, Harrogate stepped it up a gear and never looked like losing the 3rd, leading all the way to 25-19.
Phoenix realising that this could be the final set and nobody wants to go home early from the final started the 4th set in fighting spirit, and at 17-8 had established a comfortable lead. Then came the wobble as Harrogate fought back. Soon the lead was only 20-16. Then the wobble became a crisis at 21-all! A quick succession of time outs by resulted in scores of 23-22 & 23-23.
As Harrogate just about had one hand on the trophy, Phoenix closed out the set 25-23.
The deciding set. Harrogate started strongly, establishing a 4-1 lead. But with dogged determination Phoenix clawed their way back to an 8-6 lead, at the turn around. As the set progressed Harrogate levelled, Phoenix edged a point ahead, Harrogate levelled and Phoenix edged a point ahead again. The rallies seemed to be getting longer and longer as neither team wanted to give way. Then at 14-13, heartbreak for Harrogate and ecstasy for Phoenix as they took the final point. "Game Over"
York Phoenix - Yorkshire Plate Champions for 2008
Yorkshire Men's Cup Final
Leeds Met University 3-2 Hawks (23-25, 25-21, 25-14, 12-25, 15-8)
The big one. Youth versus maturity.
LMU, the newcomers to the Yorkshire League, with a wealth of young British and International talent against the established order, a team of matured experience and current Yorkshire champions, Hawks, from Cleckheaton.
Like two heavy weight boxers the two teams sized each other up and then weighed in with the big hits in the usual attempt to establish psychological superiority. Hawks dominated the early encounters and established a 12-7 lead at the mid point. LMU settled themselves and began to chip away at Hawks early lead, running them close until Hawks closed the set out 25-23.
The big hits were evenly matched with some awesome blocking by both teams and so it was that we were entertained by more of the same in the second set.
This set was far too close to call, with neither team establishing a critical lead.
Each big hit was matched by a big block or by some dynamic backcourt defence, as neither team was prepared to give way. Eventually LMU got the upper hand and finished the set 25-21.
The 3rd set saw Hawks lose their way a bit and, after a run of poor serves, LMU established a healthy lead. They finished off the set 25-14.
Were Hawks out of it? Had they given it their best shot? Were the youngsters going to get the better of the experienced players? Not at all. Hawks came back strongly and blew LMU away 25-12 in the 4th set.
Yes, the second 5th set of the day! It had been a fantastic afternoon of volleyball, but it wasn't over yet.
The opening exchanges were close and exciting with neither team wanting to give way. The big hits were still BIG and each team managed to find just that little bit more energy to make those crucial blocks. But the backcourt play and concentration was going to be crucial if one team was to establish the upper hand. The teams changed ends at 8-5 to LMU and it was the students who made the critical breakthrough. Somehow they managed to find just that little bit extra and were able to push to a 15-8 victory.
Leeds Metropolitan University are Yorkshire Men's Cup Champions 2008
In Conclusion
An awesome days Volleyball. We couldn't ask for more.
Congratulations to York Phoenix and Leeds Metropolitan University. Commiserations to Harrogate and Hawks.
It was an exciting and dynamic conclusion to both competitions. Thanks to all the teams who took part in both competitions. Can't wait till next year.
A BIG THANKS
To the referees and scorers on the day, without whom the matches could not have taken place.
Plate : Dan Harrison & Matt Bianco - Les Hallsworth & Antony Peacock
Cup : Deb Smart & Antony Peacock - Matt Bianco & Doug Lawson
Also a big thanks to Fiona and her team at Oaklands Sports Centre who looked after us so well and enabled the event to run so smoothly.
Thanks to all the teams who took part in both competitions.
Can't wait till next year.
Doug Lawson - YVA Men's League Secretary
Yorkshire Men's Cup 2007/08 - Draw and Results
| Round One | Quarter finals | Semi finals | Final | ||||||
| [w/c 16 Dec] | [w/c 06 Jan] | [w/c 27 Jan] | Oaklands SC, York | ||||||
| Sunday 24th February | |||||||||
| H | Sheffield | 3 | H Sheffield | 2 | 5pm | ||||
| A | Barnsley 1 | 1 | |||||||
| A | Leeds Met Uni | 3 | |||||||
| H | Leeds Met Uni | dW | A Leeds Met Uni | 3 | |||||
| A | Phoenix Flyers | dL | Leeds Metropolitan University | 3 | |||||
| Champions | |||||||||
| H | Vikings | 0 | A York 1 | 3 | (23-25, 25-21, 25-14, 12-25, 15-8) | ||||
| A | York 1 | 3 | |||||||
| H | York 1 | 1 | |||||||
| H | City of Hull | 3 | H City of Hull | 2 | |||||
| A | Harrogate | 2 | |||||||
| VS | |||||||||
| H | Hawks | dW | H Hawks | 3 | |||||
| A | St Marys | dL | |||||||
| H | Hawks | 3 | |||||||
| H | Leeds 2 | 0 | A Boathouse | 2 | |||||
| A | Boathouse | 3 | Hawks | 2 | |||||
| Runners Up | |||||||||
| H | Menwith Hill | 3 | A Menwith Hill | 0 | |||||
| A | Barnsley 2 | 1 | |||||||
| A | Leeds 1 | 2 | |||||||
| H | York Phoenix | 0 | H Leeds 1 | 3 | |||||
| A | Leeds 1 | 3 |
Yorkshire Plate 2007/08 - Draw and Results
| Round One | Quarter finals | Semi finals | Final | ||||
| [w/c 16 Dec] | [w/c 06 Jan] | [w/c 27 Jan] | Oaklands SC, York | ||||
| Sunday 24th February | |||||||
| H | Sheffield | 3 | H Barnsley 1 | dW | 3 pm | ||
| A | Barnsley 1 | 1 | |||||
| A Barnsley 1 | 0 | ||||||
| H | Leeds Met Uni | dW | A Phoenix Flyers | dL | |||
| A | Phoenix Flyers | dL | Harrogate | ||||
| Runners Up | |||||||
| H | Vikings | 0 | A Vikings | dL | 2 | ||
| A | York 1 | 3 | |||||
| H Harrogate | 3 | ||||||
| H | City of Hull | 3 | H Harrogate | dW | |||
| A | Harrogate | 2 | VS | ||||
| H | Hawks | dW | H St Marys | 3 | |||
| A | St Marys | dL | |||||
| H St Marys | 1 | ||||||
| H | Leeds 2 | 0 | A Leeds 2 | 1 | |||
| A | Boathouse | 3 | York Phoenix | ||||
| Champions | |||||||
| H | Menwith Hill | 3 | A Barnsley 2 | 2 | 3 | ||
| A | Barnsley 2 | 1 | (21-25, 25-17, 19-25, 25-23, 15-13) | ||||
| A York Phoenix | 3 | ||||||
| H | York Phoenix | 0 | H York Phoenix | 3 | |||
| A | Leeds 1 | 3 | |||||
| 260208 Doug Lawson |