TYNEDALE Marauders put in their best performance of the season to overcome a rapidly improving NESLC Aztecs side.

A close game ensued between the Hexham and Longbenton side, but it was the hosts who kept their composure for the 3-1 victory.

The first set was nail-bitingly close with both sides finding it difficult to score a killer shot, the rallies long to the point where there was a genuine

risk of running out of time if the game had gone to five sets.

Marauders took the first set despite some wayward passing, setter Elliot Mattock having to

work extremely hard to provide other than basic attacking options for the hitters. 

NESLC have many players over six foot in height and they blocked very effectively, raising their game to edge the second set 26-24.

The Marauders demonstrated team spirit is incredibly high in the camp as they shone in the following two sets in which every point seemed like a marathon.

Tynedale‘s middle hitter Ben Barratt was voted most valuable player by the opposition as he never gave up hope going for shots despite the two man block, and he also destroyed Aztecs’ big middle attack with some excellent blocks.

Captain Gary Muir was as always positive and consistent as ever, while outside hitter Jonathan Lodge put together a good run of point-winning spikes.

There was also some solid work from the older heads in the team, Tomasczcyk, Paul Barratt and Phil Dodd, which helped steady the ship during the closing stages of the tight sets, particularly the fourth, as Tynedale kept a

three point advantage through half the set to edge over the line.