The Beverz Rating; League Meet 4
It’s a new year so it means fresh starts for some, but when it comes to the British Dodgeball National League’s we are almost halfway through. There are some key match ups this week so let’s see what the Beverz Rating has to say about it all.
Women’s Super League
The league that just keeps giving! Last meet we had Phantoms drop their first points of the season in an absolute thriller streamed live on British Dodgeball YouTube. When Storm were 2 points up, 2 players up with 4 balls and 10 seconds left in a one-minute set no one expected the comeback.
This week Phantoms start off by facing a Valkyries team that are 3rd and only 3 points behind. And if that wasn’t a good enough reason to get excited Leamington face Storm at the same time on court 2.
Then to keep the party going we have Rangers v Wolves who are separated by 1 point in 8th and 9th. Two teams that are desperate for these two points, let's hope they are up to speed after the Christmas period where most teams don’t train.
Then we go back-to-back with great games with Phantoms v Spartans. First v Second in the table, and they both will have come off gruelling first matches. Phantoms have the statistical advantage in the Beverz Rating and the advantage on the table with a set difference 44 points higher.
| Bedford Rangers | 13 | V | 11 | Wessex Wolves |
| Derby Phantoms | 13 | V | 11 | Leamington Spartans |
| East Anglian Valkyries | 11 | V | 13 | Derby Phantoms |
| Leamington Spartans | 13 | V | 11 | London Storm |
Women’s League 1
I don’t know if British Dodgeball did this on purpose but whilst Rangers and Wolves are facing off in the super league the top two teams are facing off in Women's League 1 in the first match on court 3. Raptors are still the unstoppable force, but this could be the meet where they falter. They first play Storm 2 in second and Nighthawks in third. Raptors will have the opportunity to be the highest rated League 1 team if they beat both by 16-8.
The other match to look out for this meet is a Phantoms 2 v Raptors 2. Phantoms are the favourite on paper but when these two teams faced Honey Bees at the same league meet it was Stafford Raptors 2 that came away with a point.
| STAFFORD RAPTORS | 14 | V | 10 | NORWICH NIGHTHAWKS |
| LONDON STORM 2 | 13 | V | 11 | STAFFORD RAPTORS |
| STAFFORD RAPTORS 2 | 11 | V | 13 | DERBY PHANTOMS 2 |
Men’s Super League
When is there not a good match in the Men’s Super League? This time its Rangers facing Meteors. It's like this season has been building and building for Rangers. In each league meet they have faced and beaten in order: Storm, Killer Bees, Spartans. And Meteors are up next. Each team has a game beforehand so will be going in fully pumped and raring to go. I did do a little bit of extra statistical analysis and based on the probability of their future matches Rangers and Spartans are predicted to both finish on 27 Points with Meteors on 26.
In theory it’s a three-horse race but whoever wins in our other match to watch, Killer Bees v Sheriffs then they will throw their name back in the hat. Sheriffs and Bees have been playing well pushing the top three all to only single digit wins.
In the final must watch match, the bottom two are facing off. If the favourite Wolves win then it may condemn Storm 2 to relegation. Especially if Storm 2 lose their other match against MK Cyclones.
| LUTTERWORTH METEORS | 13 | V | 11 | BEDFORD RANGERS |
| LONDON STORM 2 | 12 | V | 12 (f) | WESSEX WOLVES |
| MANCHESTER KILLER BEES | 14 | V | 10 | NOTTINGHAM SHERIFFS |
Men’s League 1
This league meet is all about whether the undefeated (most overused word in dodgeball) Owls can consolidate their lead at the top of League 1. Or are Phantoms or Silverbacks going to take over the mantle of top of the league? Two great match ups and hopefully thanks to Owls they will both go onto YouTube so we all have the pleasure of witnessing these two great matches.
Finally with Worker Bees, an unpredictable team, facing both Bedford’s. Any kind of slip up will mean their medal hopes may go up in smoke.
| LEEDS OWLS | 11 | V | 13 | COVENTRY SILVERBACKS |
| LEEDS OWLS | 12 (f) | V | 12 | DERBY PHANTOMS |
Men’s League 2
More big games given to us by the fixture organiser makes us ask if this is the dodgeball equivalent of a boxing day football matches! The top two face off again with both going in with 6 from 6 records. The only difference is Nighthawks have managed 14 more set points, however Spartans go in as favourites. We shall have to see which one off these two titans come out on top.
We then have a mid-table clash with our closest match of the meet with Cyclones 2 facing Wolves 2. This has been included because of how close it is and if either lose then they may drop into the relegation battle. Raptors 2 and Phantoms 2 then means that one of these teams may close the gap putting increasing pressure on the three teams on 4 points.
| LEAMINGTON SPARTANS 2 | 13 | V | 11 | NORWICH NIGHTHAWKS |
| STAFFORD RAPTORS 2 | 9 | V | 15 | DERBY PHANTOMS 2 |
| MK CYCLONES 2 | 12 (f) | V | 12 | WESSEX WOLVES 2 |
Men’s League 3
To polish of the predictions for meet 4 we have second place Bovines against fourth place Nighthawks. Nighthawks will be looking to bounce back after a loss to the Predators which dropped them to fourth. Whilst the bovines will not want to lose sight of Silverbacks 2 who are facing two of the bottom three!
Finally who doesn’t love a derby? The Slayers and the Neophytes both hail from the Worcestershire Empire and are next to each other in the league. Both teams have a win against Panthers but it is the Slayers who have an extra point thanks to a draw against Nighthawks 3. 6-0 up to 10-6 down then tied up going into a 1 minute set and only a 5 second call kept them away from taking both points. Slayers are tipped for this one so we shall have to see what happens on the day.
| NORWICH NIGHTHAWKS 2 | 13 | V | 11 | SHEFFIELD BOVINES |
| WORCESTERSHIRE VIRTUE NEOPHYTES | 9 | V | 15 | WORCESTERSHIRE VIRTUE SLAYERS |