A depleted Vikings go out of the Shield
HANDBALL
NEWCASTLE Vikings’ depleted women’s team was knocked out of the England Handball National Shield 24-17 by Midlands Regional League side Northampton.
Played at Cranfield University near Bedford, the hosts got off the mark first - but the Vikings soon pulled level through goals from line player María José González, righthalf Alina Inta and young rightwinger Katerina Gibson - only her second for the senior team.
Centre Marlen Goulty suffered a broken thumb but, without any substitutes available, she had to battle on - switching out to the wing with Marie Thompson moving inside.
Inta’s resulting penalty strike briefly edged the Vikings in front before Northampton regained the lead.
Thompson nevertheless revelled in the half position, quickly scoring a hat-trick to bring the game all square again.
Backed up by good saves from in-form goalkeeper Andrea King, the Vikings were frustrating the bigger, powerful home side.
Despite a shoulder injury to backcourt player Rosa Larcy, the two teams continued to trade goals for the rest of the half, Inta deftly lobbing the opposing goalkeeper and Goulty defying her injury with a left-handed goal.
Thompson fired in her fourth and Inta did likewise from the penalty line to take the sides into the halftime break at 11-11.
The interval, however, affected Newcastle’s momentum as Northampton started with four quick-fire goals before Inta and González had the Vikings’ scoreline ticking over again.
However, the home side continued to extend their advantage from the penalty line and on the break as Newcastle began to tire.
Further strikes came from Goulty’s second left-hander, Larcy breaking through and Inta’s sixth as the Vikings sought to fight back.
However, by the time González rounded off the scoring with her third of the game it was Northants who had run out the winners.
Newcastle’s ladies return to action after the festive break with a home league match against Manchester on Saturday, January 12.