Vikings get handy win in Liverpool to start regional title defence
WOMEN’S HANDBALL
NEWCASTLE Vikings Handball Club’s women opened their England Handball Regional League North title defence with a hard-fought 18-19 away win over last season’s runners-up Liverpool at Chester’s Northgate Arena on Sunday.
In an evenly matched first half in which both teams traded goals throughout, centre Maren Liane opened the scoring before the Merseysiders nudged ahead. Righthalf Alina Inta, right-winger Blessing Ogbee, line-player María José González and left-half Rosa Larcy all fired in from close range to level the scoreline at 5-5, before back court players Liane and Inta both struck again, with Larcy slotting a penalty shot.
Goalkeeper Andrea King brilliantly saved a Liverpool penalty with her outstretched foot, but could not prevent the hosts from continuing to find their way through the Newcastle defence to level again, and was thankful to captain Sandra ChristkeLamb’s strike from the line position and another Larcy penalty to give the Vikings a narrow 9-10 half-time advantage.
Liverpool came out the more positive at the start of the second half and, despite another Inta goal, they quickly opened a four-goal lead as Newcastle failed to take their opportunities. However, backed up by another King penalty save, the Vikings women fought back superbly with six unanswered goals from Liane and a double-brace from top-scorer Larcy sandwiching Christke-Lamb’s second to really get the Newcastle players pumped-up.
The home side continued their well-practised attacking plays, with left-winger Judit Radnoti scoring her seventh goal and left-half Marta Tubacka adding her fifth as they sought to level again in a tense finish. But the Vikings defence held firm, with player-coach Marlen Goulty firing a brilliant shot into the top corner over the Liverpool defence at the other end, and Newcastle’s Kafeneon player-of-thematch Liane appropriately rounded off the scoring with her fourth goal to secure the one-goal 18-19 victory.
Goulty was pleased with the way the Vikings girls came back for the win from their opening match of the season, but nevertheless recognised there were a few things to practice on before an, away game to the University of Leeds on 17 November.