SOLENT made a positive start to the new National Men's League Division 3 West season in Plymouth.

Resplendent in their newly-sponsored kit from the Earl of Locksley pub in Sholing, they demolished the hosts 3-0 and then came close to beating a Wessex side made up of players who had plied their trade in Division 1 last season.

Looking motivated under the guidance of new coach Matt Cordrey-Gale, they jumped straight into a 15-9 lead against Plymouth before clinching the set 25-22.

With new recurit Nik Hardy scoring heavily alongside fellow hitters Simon Trueick and James Kemp, Solent won the second 25-15.

Excellent passing, notably by Tim Nash, provided the foundation of their victory and another 25-15 scoreline in the third set wrapped the match up inside an hpir.

Having inherited a handful of players from their now defunct Division 1 squad, Poole-based Wessex are now a different proposition from the side which finished second to bottom last season.

Solent were aware of this and won the first two sets 25-21, 25-23, with the help of some amazing recoveries from Ian Coombs.

But signs of fatigue crept in along, with some dubious delaying tactics from Wessex, and it was the Poole side who claimed the next two sets 25-22, 25-17 to set up a decider.

Solent managed to draw on their reserves of character but lost that 15-13.