IBB Polonia London return from Newcastle with nothing to show

IBB Polonia London played against the team from Newcastle on 21st October in the next round of the Super 8 league. Home advantage went the way for Team Northumbria and saw out the match 3:1 (25:14; 25:19; 20:25; 25:14). This resulted with no points to add to the tally in the league table.

„Yesterday’s match was not an easy affair as we play a team who always invests a lot in order to win the Super 8 title. A long 5 hour trip to the north is always an unpleasant preparation for the match and in addition I have heard comments such as „Newcastle is hell: we can’t win there” from various sources. We wanted to change this, but unfortunately we didn’t play to our potential.” – commented Piotr Graban, Head Coach of IBB Polonia London.

Just like last season, the match lasted four sets. The first phase went the way of the home team who started very strongly. The team from London took the initiative and found their rhythm and reduced the number of errors they made, but this still was not sufficient to take the set. IBB Polonia London showed real class in the third set and forced Northumbria into playing more weakly and took the set. The final set, as it turned out, started with both teams taking an even number of points, but then a partial collapse saw the home team close out the match.

„I take full responsibility for the loss, because having such a young squad, they needed better preparation. I am aware I could have made some small adjustments which would have made a difference, but it was too late. Knowing this and having the ability to implement those changes will help us to regain our winning ways. Just around the corner, we have NEVZA waiting for us, and we must do everything possible to win. Defeats are always a lesson and we will work hard to improve.” – added Graban.

This week the club will be out and about on the 25th and 26th October at the Construction Show. Thanks to the strategic sponsors IBB Builders Merchants, the current English Champions will be on show at this huge event in London. Free tickets are available here. At the weekend, IBB Polonia London will play a friendly match against Essex. This will be the final opportunity before the NEVZA Club Championships, which take place between 3rd and 5th November 2017. In the group phase, the team from England play against Ishøj Volley (Denmark) and Ballklub Trasmø (Norway). The Super 8 Champions play their games at Ishøj, Denmark and will be playing for a place in the finals in January 2018.

The next domestic game will be on 11th November in Brentford at the Fountain Sports hall. The match will be against New Forest for a place in the Cup quarter finals. Then on the 18th November, the return match against Team Northumbria takes place at the same location in Brentford. All fixtures and results are available at polonia.vc.

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