Tendring Mens 2nds v London Aces

11:25, 19:25, 22:25

Report by Tom Akiens

Tendring started their third game of the season sluggishly, giving away a number of points through unforced errors to allow London Aces to race into an 8-2 lead at the first technical timeout.

With the passing unit struggling, Tendring continued to drop points and give opportunities to the unbeaten Aces who opened up an unassailable lead moving into the middle of the first set. After a couple of substitutions, Tendring began to fight back, trading points and gradually beginning to feature more and more in the match however it was too little too late as the London side took the first set.

As the second set began the temperature inside the University of Essex Sports Centre reached a tropical level whilst Tendring finally made the visitors sweat with outside hitters Craig Lawrie (Capt) and Neil Masters finding ways around and sometimes over the London Aces block. An improved serve receive along with some good service pressure helped Tendring to stay with the Aces throughout set two only to make some crucial errors late on and go down 25-19.

The home side found themselves 2-0 down to the unbeaten table toppers as the match moved into the third set but the slightly altered Tending line up stood firm and fought back, exchanging points with Masters and Alex Porter using all of their experience to help keep the score board ticking over. On top of that Captain Craig Lawrie drove his team forward with a number of kills that the away side simply couldn't deal with but the London Aces showed why they've had such a good start to the season staying with Tendring point for point. Unlike the last set Tendring pushed on right until the end with the young Callum Sage showing his class with some great hits through opposite. Ultimately the London side just edged Tendring, taking the match 3-0 but the fight and quality shown by the home side in the 3rd set in particular showed that Tendring are capable of going toe to toe with anyone in this league as they will surely continue to show as the season progresses.