Volleyball :Liam is Darling of the Scots as England are vanquished

Published on Monday 21 December 2009 09:52

CITY OF EDINBURGH libero Liam Darling was Scotland's top player as they whitewashed England at the Christmas Junior International Volleyball Challenge at Glasgow's Kelvin Hall.

Darling, one of four City players in the Scotland squad, was named Most Valuable Player after the two-day series saw Scotland stand head and shoulders above the English side.

After winning the opening clash 27-25, 25-18, 25-23, Scotland followed up with a 25-23, 25-13, 25-19 victory in the second match as Scotland recorded a rare double win over the "Auld Enemy".

"It is encouraging to see Liam playing at this level and to see how far he has come since he first took up the game with City of Edinburgh," said club coach Ian Brownlee. "The youth side of the club is still thriving and we have over 100 members and it is good to see them get recognition at this level."

England led at several stages in the final set of the final match but Scotland pulled back to 18-18 and then took the lead at 19-18 after a hitting error by Roman Neveykin.

It was the break they need to go on and win the set and complete the whitewash. The Scots had great success through the middle and when Fraser Brown (Leeds Carnegie) put them 23-19 in front with an astute piece of play at the net there was no way back for England.

Kevin Laurie (South Ayrshire) made it match point with another hit through the middle and Scotland won it at the first chance with an outside hit from Seain Cook (Bath University).

It was a solid all-round team display over the two matches which promises much for the future. Andrew McGregor (Su Ragazzi) also had a dominant two matches.

Scotland's women lost their two matches with England but gave an improved performance in the second encounter before going down 17-25, 25-21, 24-26, 16-25.