The Perth & District Volleyball League Premier Cup competition reached a climax at Perth College on Sunday evening with the competition concluding in a thrilling final.
With one semi-final slot still up for grabs, Ian McGrath’s Motley Crew, Richard Thomson’s Fife side and Andy Gunn’s Kinross Cosmos met to decide who would qualify.
Mental Blocks took on the Fifers in the opening fixture with Blockers bringing in Perth College student Sam Jones into their ranks. The opening flurries were a bit frantic and the score progressed to 8 points each. Blockers then went on a run of seven points without reply and they held on to win the first set 25-11. The second set followed a similar pattern and finished with the same score.
Kinross Cosmos then took on the Fife side and although starting well to lead 5-2 the Fife side got to grips with things to run out winners 25-16; 17-8. Mental Blocks also proved too strong for the Kinross side winning 25-8; 23-13.
So, it was the Fife side who qualified to meet Kinross Scotrange in the semi-final. The Fife side ran riot in the first set winning 25-10 but the second set was a different affair with the Kinross side leading for most of the set. The Kinross side held set point at 24-23 but the Fifers levelled the score at 24 points all at full time, thus preventing a sudden death third set decider.
Jamie Salvin’s Perth based Dodgy Spikers then took on Les Sikora’s Eagles’ side in the other semi-final tie and the Perth side were quick off the mark taking a 9-3 lead. A late flurry from Eagles saw them give themselves a chance of victory but it wasn’t to be as Spikers sealed the set 25-21. This knocked Eagles and they struggled in the second set with Spikers running riot to win 25-7.
And so, the final was set – Perth v Fife and what a close-run game it was. Things were close all the way through the first set as play swung from end to end. It was the Fife side who eventually won the first set 25-19. The second set was just as close and it was a thrilling final two minutes with Spikers leading, needing to score three points before the full-time whistle sounded. It was heartache for Spikers as they were poised at set point 24-17 but the Fife side won the final point to prevent another sudden death third set decider.
Congratulations to the Fife side for making it a cup double in this season curtailed by Covid.
This Sunday sees the Recreational League competition commence with the ten teams playing in two seeded sections of five teams, based on their performances in the recent league cup competition. This Sunday’s competition sees Bell’s Coaching Hall hosting this round of fixtures and it will be good to be back to Perth volleyball’s spiritual home.