WEYMOUTH 0

STOCKPORT 3

WEYMOUTH Beach Volleyball Club’s bid for promotion to the National Super League came to an end when they lost 3-0 to new champions Stockport.

Weymouth needed to win to have any chance of taking the final promotion spot but instead occupy fourth spot pending the final results of Manchester Marvels plus Coventry and Warwick Riga.

Stockport came into the match having already clinched the National League Division One title with just one defeat all season.

However, any hope that they may take things easily as a result were dashed early in the match.

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Weymouth started with libero Elliott Sawyer back in the team but without Valdis Baranovs whose persistent knee injury ruled him out and he was replaced by Zoltan Hegedus.

Weymouth were roared on by easily their largest crowd of the season which filled the Redlands balcony.

The match started fairly evenly with both sides finding scoring points on their own serve very difficult.

At 9-9, Stockport began to show why they have had such a successful season with power serving and hitting putting pressure on the Weymouth defence and gaining a run of five successive points to lead 14-9.

From here on, Stockport showed their experience and maintained their lead, despite good blocking from Sam Groom and Seb Smith, to take the set 25-19.

The second set followed a similar pattern with both teams looking strong in attack but Stockport just being that little more consistent and less likely to make errors and this enabled them to take the set 25-17.

The third set was the closest of the match with both teams going point for point although serving errors from Weymouth allowed Stockport to gain a slight lead.

However, Weymouth were not going to give up easily and roared on by the crowd they fought back and the teams were level at 23-23.

At this crucial time, two powerful attacks were enough for Stockport to take the match.

Weymouth coach Stuart Jeanes said: “Obviously the whole squad is very disappointed but considering the number of injuries the team has suffered this year it is amazing that the team has finished where they have.

“At the start of the season we wouldn’t have dreamed we would be in this position going into the last match.”

Jeanes also thanked the crowd for their great support and hoped the squad could build on their progress next season.