Out-gunned in the shadow of the castle

Dundee’s men faced table toppers Edinburgh University in the first play-off game in Scottish League 1 last Saturday in the capital and found the opposition tough to handle.  With a full squad except Kevin Chisholm and Petr Kolomaznik, it was hitters Mike Coward and Dave Bonnar who had to carry the fight to the students. Neither side was able to establish any substantial lead with Coward, Rad Marinov and Oz Dowie all scoring for the visitors.  The students then found a run of form and they started to donate the net.  The home side had 3 tall hitters that were proving difficult to slow down or stop and they opened up a 19/11 lead.  Dave Bonnar and Craig Goldthorp managed to sore with hits off the Edinburgh block but the tall home side took the set 25/19.

A switch in the line-up helped the Dundee side in the second set with 3 scores from Mike Coward and Rad Marinov then 3 errors gave them a 6/3 lead.  The University side came back with 2 counter-attacks but Goldthorp, Marinov and Barry Millar kept Dundee ahead at 16/13.  Both sides scored runs of 3 points and Dundee still had the lead at 21/19.   The students then hit a series of power serves which restricted the Dundee attack and allowed points to be scored in counter attack giving Edinburgh a 24/21 lead.  Mike Coward scored 2 points before Edinburgh hit 2 big points to win the set 26/24.

Dundee started the third set with some momentum and all 6 players in their team scoring points to lead 11/8 Big serves again halted progress for Dundee as the home side opened up a 17/15 lead. Coward, Marinov and Lewis Crockart all scored to keep Dundee close at 19/20.  A serve error handed to ball to Edinburgh then a run of 4 points, including 2 errors and a score block against, won the set 25/19 and the game 3/0 to keep the University side clear at the top of the league.