Despite missing their two strongest spikers - Tomasz Szlempo and Dawid Greziak were still in Poland - and with David Hubner and Steve Kay out injured, Boathouse's volleyball players still started the new year on a high.

They defeated Newcastle City 25-23, 28-26, 14-25, 25-16 and Chester & Ellesmere Port 21-25, 25-27, 25-16, 25-18, 15-11 in National League Three North at Birkdale High School, Dewsbury.

Boathouse knew they would have to grind out victories and took 13 points from three servers - Ben Jost, Tom Gilbert and Kevin O'Malley - in overcoming Newcastle in the fourth set.

Jost was the Most Valuable Player for his outside spiking, which beat the Newcastle blockers time and again.

Boathouse then gained revenge over Chester & Ellesmere Port Eels after a 3-1 defeat earlier in the season.

Boathouse came back from two sets to love down and their pivotal player was veteran player-coach O'Malley, making his first National League appearance of the season.

Consistent setting allowed his side's hitters to get back into the match and pull off an unlikely victory.

Unsurprisingly, O'Malley won the MVP award but accurate service reception from German libero Seb Fischer also helped.

Boathouse's next National League matches are on Sunday against Birmingham University and Warwick Riga 2 in Birmingham.

These three games could well decide the final league placings, as Birmingham are first, Boathouse second and Warwick Riga third.

Boathouse: Mo Bucksun, Nick Farrar, Sebastian Fischer, Tom Gilbert, Ben Jost, Neil Jorgensen, Kevin O'Malley, Mike Turner, Laurent Zeiller. Coach: David Hübner.