Cup battles provide thrilling entertainment

THE first round of the EHA Cup provided some thrilling handball across the country last weekend, as clubs battled for a place in the last eight of the annual competition.

The match between Manchester University and Liverpool Speke Garston proved a real cracker, with Sugden Sports Centre in Manchester witnessing a high-octane and fast-paced game.

Liverpool Speke Garston continuing their recent improvement and pushed Manchester University all way. A series of missed open goal shots enabled the Manchester team to go in six goals ahead at half time.

The second half was fiercely contested and goals came fast and furiously as both teams raised the tempo, fast breaking by both teams pushed the score up as the teams clinically scored goal for goal throughout the half.

Liverpool Speke Garston hauled back the score in the last ten minutes, going for a man to man press that buckled the Manchester team. Liverpool Speke closed the gap to three goals but the damage done in the first half was to prove their downfall.

Having outscored Manchester in the second half it was not enough and Speke lost out 38-35. The game played was a credit to both teams and English handball.

Elsewhere, National League play-off leaders Salford cruised to a 26-7 victory over Manchester, while at Leyton SCORE Centre in London Cambridge just edged out Olympia 31-29.

Bath University came out 36-27 winners from their match against Warwickshire University, while the final round one match between Deva and Liverpool Wolves will be played on March 17.

Manchester go down against Speke Garston

MANCHESTER Handball Club were left reeling this weekend as they completed the final game of the English National League’s Northern Section, going down 19-28 against Liverpool Speke Garston.

Due to traffic problems the Liverpool Speke team started with four players missing and Manchester took full advantage controlling the game throughout the first half. Liverpool Speke Garston persevered keeping in touch to finish half time 14-10 down.

Galvanised by the half time team talk, Liverpool Speke Garston came out all guns blazing and put on a gritty defensive show matching Manchester goal for goal nullifying Karim Hammache in the process.

Manchester still led with 14 minutes to go, but the Liverpool Speke team began to dominate and clawed back the deficit racking in five goals without reply to go ahead. Remarkably Manchester only scored five goals in the second half period as the Liverpool Speke Garston team improved running out worthy winners.

Nottingham Play-off Hopes Suffer

Nottingham’s hopes of making the play-offs suffered a blow at the weekend when they lost out 35-29 to Liverpool Speke Garston who continue to improve in the National League’s Northern Section.

Dominating the game from the start, they soon established a lead over the free-scoring Nottingham team who appeared shell shocked by Liverpool’s tenacity which helped them lead 13-7 at the break.

The second half turned out to be entertaining as Nottingham closed the score to go ahead mid-way through the second half due to series of poor shooting opportunities not converted by the home team.

However the last ten minutes proved decisive and the Liverpool Speke Garston team defence overwhelmed the Nottingham attack and Speke ran out winners at 35-29.

Wolves Made to Work in Derby Clash

The always intense Liverpool derby between Liverpool Wolves and Speke took place last weekend at Greenbank Sports Academy in the City as the English National League’s northern section continued.

Liverpool Wolves were continuing their bid to reach the play-offs, while for Speke Garston this was all about rivalry and pride, as their play-off options are very distant.

The game started with two strong defences, marking the two high scorers in both teams, left half Perez for Speke and Nuno Carvalho for Liverpool.

The strong defences, combined with some good saves from both goalkeepers, helped to keep the score low. It wasn't a pretty handball game: The ball wasn't moving swiftly and all came down to one on ones.

This is when the young Wolves starting showing what they are made of. Liverpool Wolves played five Under-18 players who consistently scored. Brian Au from the wing, Callum McKenzie scoring some cracking goals from the right half, and Przemyslaw Trzeciecki creating screens for all of them. Liverpool Wolves managed to pull some extra breaks towards the end of the first half getting a four-goal lead at half time.

But Speke Garston weren't finished. A commendable fighting spirit and a superbly positioned defence helped them to erase the goal difference bit by bit and before anyone realised it, they were only one goal down with 15 minutes to go.

At that point Liverpool Wolves needed something to lift their spirits, and that came in the form of a superb double penalty save from young goalkeeper Bradders! Liverpool Wolves found their speed again and the day was culminated with a Kempa goal from Liam Welsby, all in his first ever appearance with Liverpool Wolves.

The final result was 27-21 to Liverpool Wolves. But Speke Garston never gave up, and this year have shown a great handball club spirit and brought new lads to the sport, giving them court time and doing a great job with young lads in the community.

Watch them when their lads get more experience next year!

Manchester back to Winning Ways

FOLLOWING the previous week’s disappointing result where they lost out to Nottingham University, Manchester returned to winning ways against Liverpool Speke Garston and won 27-17.

During the first period both defences working hard, scoring kept at a minimum. Speke’s Campillo shooting was wayward as shot after shot missed resulting in Manchester pulling away during the half.

Numerous chances and went begging and the Liverpool Speke Garston team struggled to produce the goals to keep up with an efficient Manchester team, going in half time down at 15-9 in Manchester’s favour.

The second half was more entertaining, Manchester struggled slightly as the Liverpool Speke Garston pressed hard during the half. But once again poor handling came back to haunt the Liverpool Speke Garston team as fast break after fast break broke down and Manchester capitalising to run out 27-17 deserved winners.

In other action in the Northern Section, Deva won 30-21 against University of Manchester.

Salford go Top of the Table

SALFORD retook top spot in the early National League (North) table when they secured a big 38-15 victory over Liverpool Speke Garston at Greenbank Academy in Liverpool on Sunday.

With a ten-goal victory for Deva in the previous round denying them top spot, Salford came out on Sunday determined to regain their status as top club in the North.

At half time, Salford already had a comfortable lead and went in 14-7 up. Some excellent goal keeping from Speke's Paul Langton keeping the gap somewhat respectable given the gulf between the two teams.

However, in the second half, and despite Speke's Peter Roscoe scoring seven goals, Salford pushed on and scored 24 more goals to Speke's eight.

Notable performances from Salford came from Jack Hennessey and Stuart Latchford who scored 8 goals apiece, and from Stephen Clarke who maintained his 100 per cent shots to goals record from the two games played so far.

In other league action, the University of Nottingham won 26-15 against the University of Manchester, with Guillaume Bodet scoring ten of their goals.

And Deva came out on top 34-31 against league newcomers Leeds Hornets. Tom Kensall scored nine for Deva, while Wojtek Biecios scored nine for Leeds.

Speke Garston Beat Deva to Book Last Eight Spot

LIVERPOOL Speke Garston booked their place in the quarter finals of the EHA Cup when they secured a 33-25 victory over rivals Deva at Greenbank Sports Academy on Sunday.

Ten goals from Smith helped Speke Garston to victory - his five in the first half helped them to a 19-11 lead at the break, and they continued to dominate after the break.

Deva’s top scorer was Steffan who also bagged ten goals, while Steve Jameson added eight, but it was not enough to secure the win.

Speke Garston’s reward for the victory was a clash with Manchester in the last eight of the competition.

Elsewhere, Leeds University will play National League play-off leaders Salford in the next round after beating Cambridge 30-29 in a thrilling clash at Moulton, near Northampton.

Manchester cruised into the last eight with a 25-11 win over Oxford University at Leyton SCORE Centre in London, but at just 6-9 ahead at half time they had to turn the style on in the second half to overcome a stubborn Oxford outfit.

The Mancunians looked hesitant in attack, and the lack of organisation and poor shot efficiency allowed Oxford to stay on their heels by just a few goals.

But a Manchester timeout gave them time to sort their patterns out, and keeping their defensive solidarity and building more coordinated attacks, Manchester finished the first half three goals ahead (9-6).

After the break Manchester were more accurate in attack, and were helped by a great goalkeeping show from Deak who only conceded five.

Salford reached the quarter finals when they beat Manchester University 29-18, while Liverpool Wolves hammered Bristol 40-19 in their second round match to reach the last eight.

Wolves’ reward for their win is a clash with Ruislip Eagles, while Olympia play Great Dane in the final quarter final match.

Those games - and the Plate matches for teams knocked out of the Cup - are scheduled for the weekend of April 9-10.

Unsung Hero Award for Jacobson

LIVERPOOL Speke Garston handball coach John Jacobson has been nominated for the finals of the BBC Unsung Sporting Hero Award after winning through the North West regional stage.

His nomination comes after 42 years of dedicated service to handball development in the region, but he has not just been involved in coaching.

He was captain of Great Britain and played in Olympic qualifying rounds for the 1972 and 1976 Olympics, and played in the World Championships in 1976 and 1980 before moving into coaching to pass on his vast experience to new generations.

*After winning the West Cheshire and Chester Coach of the Year Award recently, Deva handball club coach Gary Kelsall has won the County award and is on a shortlist of three for the National Coach of the Year Awards later this month.