Nottingham Make Late Play-Off Push

THIRD-placed Nottingham University face two tough games this week as their bid to reach the end of season play-offs reaches a crucial stage.

They face league leaders Salford on Tuesday when a victory will cement their spot in the top three, but a defeat will mean they are left hoping that Manchester University lose out to Liverpool Wolves next Sunday.

Manchester University are just one points behind Nottingham and poised to take the final spot in the play-offs should their rivals falter.

The first of three matches due to take place, the fate of the Manchester University v Liverpool Wolves clash is by no means certain.

New to the league this season, the Wolves will be no pushover, having drawn with second-placed Manchester a couple of weeks ago.

Manchester University won narrowly 26-22 when the two sides last met in November, but the Wolves are improving all the time and gave leaders Salford a tough time when they played each other a few weeks ago.

In other league action, Bath beat Cambridge 29-21 to record only their second win of the season and leave Cambridge bottom of the league.

The final set of matches in the Southern Section at Moulton on Sunday sees Ruislip play Bath University, while Great Dane take on Cambridge.

Manchester beat Rivals to go Top of the Table

WITH both teams yet to drop a point this season, Sunday’s English League clash between Manchester and hosts Nottingham University proved to be a thrilling encounter which lived up to expectations.

Both sides were determined to get the three points at stake which allowed the winner to take the lead on the table.

The usual fast tempo implemented by these two teams got slowed down, as both defensive formations were solid and experienced.

Nottingham started this game with a high 5-1 which perturbed Manchester’s ball circulation. However the Mancunians managed to score by playing between their defensive lines.

Manchester defended as a unit, forcing Nottingham to take shots on the wings mainly. The outstanding performance of our goalkeeper Zolt Deak, allowed Karim’s men to enjoy their break with an advantage of five goals at 11-6.

After the break, Nottingham came back on the pitch with an even higher defensive system (4-2), which encouraged the Manchester halves to provoke one on one duels.

The ball was released to the wings when Manchester could not break through the centre.

A red card for a Manchester player and two two-minute suspensions for Nottingham men, the orange and black fought hard to close up the gap that was separating them on the score board. But they couldn’t overhaul the target, and Manchester ended up 24-17 winners.

In other Northern League action at Greenbank, Salford beat Deva 36-23 to remain as the only other unbeaten team and take second in the table, while Liverpool Wolves beat Merseyside rivals Wirral 21-15 and Liverpool Speke Garston lost out 41-17 to Manchester University.

And in the southern section, Great Dane won 28-23 against title rivals Olympia, and Cambridge battled to a 33-25 win over Bath University.