NATIONAL ONE Docklands 3 Coventry & Warwick Riga 0 Docklands returned to winning ways at the weekend with an imposing display against old foes Coventry & Warwick Riga. After two defeats in Sheffield last weekend, Ian Legrand s men were looking to get a cr

NATIONAL ONE

Docklands 3 Coventry & Warwick Riga 0

Docklands returned to winning ways at the weekend with an imposing display against old foes Coventry & Warwick Riga.

After two defeats in Sheffield last weekend, Ian Legrand's men were looking to get a crucial victory to ease their relegation fears.

The hosts were boosted by a major new signing as Great Britain international Yassir Sliti returned for his first appearance since 2001 and linked up with his brother Mohammed on court for the first time ever.

Head coach, Ian Legrand, said afterards: "That was a massive improvement on last weekend and although there were some obvious star performances, I thought the whole team played well and showed some real passion."

The match hadn't started out that well for Docklands with Riga sneaking into a 13-10 lead, but Legrand called a time-out.

Ominously for Riga, Yassir Sliti was starting to find his range, while Matt Butterworth contributed two winners.

Boris Halatchev then produced a run of deceptive serves as Docklands moved 22-20 up, before Alex Gaitan scored a rare ace to take the first set 25-21.

Halatchev started the second set where he left off in the first with a run of serves as his side went 6-1 up.

Docklands remained in control and further kills by Halatchev and the Sliti brothers took the set away from Riga as the home side strolled to a 25-15 win.

Set three proved to be a much tighter affair, but a rare Riga error saw Docklands take a 19-16 lead, before kills by Alexis Blair and Yassir Sliti saw Docklands home 25-22.

Docklands now have a weekend off before hosting London Polonia in the KO Cup quarter-final on February 14.

Docklands: Halatchev, Bos, Gaitan, M Sliti, Blair, Y Sliti, Butterworth, Mills.