The Headline

University of Nottingham 1 edged Birmingham City 2 18-16 at Derby Arena to keep their perfect start intact — and it’s a result that lifts them into top spot in the Midlands Regional League.

The Match

On Sunday 1 November 2026, University of Nottingham 1 and Birmingham City 2 served up a tight, high-scoring contest at Derby Arena, with the lead never feeling secure for long. Nottingham looked the more settled side for extended spells, but the visitors kept finding ways to stay in touch and turn it into a late-game nerve test.

With an 18-16 final scoreline, it was a game shaped less by one decisive burst and more by composure in key moments. Nottingham’s ability to keep their attack moving and convert under pressure proved crucial, while Birmingham City’s persistence ensured the match stayed live deep into the closing stages.

Ultimately, the two-korf margin underlined how narrow the gap was on court — but also how valuable small details can be between two teams with early-season ambitions. For Nottingham, it’s another statement win in a short but flawless start; for Birmingham City, it’s a frustrating near-miss that leaves them with work to do to keep pace near the top.

What It Means

• University of Nottingham 1 move up to 1st on 6 points from 3 games and remain in the promotion zone, extending their perfect WWW start.
• The league leaders have also built valuable breathing space: they are 4 points clear of relegation and have played fewer games than some rivals, giving them room to grow into the season.
• Birmingham City 2 drop to 5th with 4 points from 4 games after a swingy LWLW run, and they’ll want to turn tight defeats into points to stay connected to the front pack.
• From a title-race perspective, Nottingham’s win matters because it puts them top while others have already dropped games — and their early efficiency is setting a pace that the rest of the division will have to match.