WEYMOUTH reached the last four of a strong pre-season National League tournament against some of the country’s elite teams.

Despite late withdrawals from Team South Wales and Wessex, Weymouth still had to face three Super 8 teams (Premiership) and three Division One squads, at the event, held at the American School in Egham, Surrey.

The tournament format was changed due to the withdrawals to a full round-robin system with a single set sprint to 21 points to determine the winner.

The tournament opened with a tough looking encounter with Weymouth facing IMKA (London).

Weymouth started well with strong outside attacking from Ramona Dienel and Marjan Su but IMKA fought back to level at 19-19.

Two well-placed serves from Angelika Sierjiej closed the match in Weymouth’s favour.

This was followed up with a 21-18 victory over newly-promoted Worthing.

Third up were Super 8 squad Surrey Orcas, and some brilliant defensive play from Weymouth’s Cristina Maddedu enabled the Seasiders to match Surrey point for point.

With the sides tied at 16-16, it was anyone’s game. Surrey's Eszter Lewis then took charge with several explosive middle attacks to hand Weymouth their first defeat of the day, 21-17.

This was followed up with scrappy loss affair against Hertfordshire. Both teams struggling to find the true form and it was the Home Counties’ team that took the honours though.

Now on a two wins, two losses record, qualification to the latter stages was looking in doubt.

Against Ashcombe, Weymouth really stepped up to the mark with setter Jojo Weng Choi pulling the Ashcombe block apart and Weymouth ran out 21-7 winners.

In the final group match, Weymouth faced the full London Polonia Super 8 team that is currently ranked two in England.

Knowing that to ensure qualification, Weymouth would have to score at least 15 points.

Not phased by this, Weymouth continued their form from the previous match with Tasha Harvey impressing for the Seasiders to push Weymouth into a form upsetting 16-14 lead.

This stung Polonia into action though, and some huge outside hitting eventually saw the Londoners through to a 21-17 success.

However, Weymouth had done enough to qualify for the knockout stages of the tournament.

This started with a rematch with IMKA, and the result was the same as in qualifying.

Weymouth winning but, this time with a more emphatic 21-16 score win.

The semi-final saw Weymouth face number two ranked qualifiers Surrey Orcas for the second time in the day.

Weymouth’s Yuri Chadavadg started the game well in the middle attack role and she was ably supported by Harvey.

As in the first match against Surrey, it was the strength in depth of the Orcas’ squad that enabled them to edge the match 21-18 and eliminate Weymouth at the final hurdle.

Coach Ian Loke said: “If Weymouth had been handed a semi-final slot against such high class opposition at the start of the day it would have been considered a huge success.

“To actually push the two big clubs, Polonia and Surrey so hard emphasises that Weymouth are now up there with the English elite at tournament format.”

Weymouth: Cristina Maddedu (Captain), Marjan Su, Tasha Harvey, Yuri Chadavadh, Angelika Sierjiej, Ramona Dienel, Jojo Weng Choi.

Coach: Ian Loke