Volleyball - Chelmsford beaten by top team (From Chelmsford Weekly News)

Volleyball - Chelmsford beaten by top team

8:40am Saturday 16th May 2009

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When the draw was made for the Rucanor Cup, the county’s top volleyball knock-out competition, Chelmsford found themselves in the half that contained the top side in the county, Brentwood Wildthings. Having both reached the semi-final these sides finally met on a hot night at Mildmay Sportshall, Anglia Ruskin University for a vintage match that saw Chelmsford take a rare set from the current holders who have yet to drop one this year in any competition.

Chelmsford started with their reliable six of Paul Bohannan (coach) and John Hill (capt) setting, Steve Peacock and Mike Parkinson middle attack with the outside power coming from Anash Vora and Dave Gentry.

The match pattern was set early on with Brentwood using power of service and hitting to put pressure on the home team defence. Meanwhile, Chelmsford relied on teamwork and sheer hard dogged resistance to stay in rallies. Set one saw Chelmsford well in touch throughout and it was only towards the end that the fast pace of the Brentwood attack began to take its toll. All the Brentwood team are regulars in the National league squad so it was no surprise that they took the set 25-18. For set two, Fairley replaced Vora at outside attack, Vora moving to the middle allowing Peacock taking a rest. Chelmsford started well and took an early lead forcing Brentwood to rethink. Their initial response was to just hit the ball even harder but with their first ball under pressure this did not work and they began to hit the ball out or into the net. Hill and Parkinson were doing damage through the middle with the faster short ball and Fairley’s jump height was occupying the Wildthings block. Chelmsford edged away point by point and although it was never easy thoroughly deserved to take the set 25-19.

Set three saw Chelmsford keep the line up whilst Wildthings were forced into changes having lost their first set in any competition this year.

Concentrating hard, both sides upped their game. Although Chelmsford were impressive they were playing above themselves against a side that play at this level week in week out. Perhaps the result was inevitable but the home team never gave up and fought for every ball in every rally. They lost set three 25-16 and in the next gave an opportunity for Attwell Mlilo and late in the set Ken Edwards to stretch their muscles but by then the team had given of their best and Brentwood were at full steam. The final set slipped away 25-15.

After the game Chelmsford reflected on their performance, coach Bohannan commenting: “This is probably the best we have played and in a sustained manner all season.

“Brentwood may have had the power, but I think they had to pull out all the stops after we have taken that second set and had we been able to take another I think they could have struggled as they are not used to playing catch up.

“Everyone played well and perhaps in the end it was height and power which we lacked rather than any skills or will to win.”

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