A below par team performance saw Newcastle Vikings Handball Club’s women lose 11-23 to the combined Leeds Hornets/Huddersfield team in Saturday’s England Handball North Regional Development League encounter at Temple Park Leisure Centre in South Shields.
The Hornets took an early lead, but Newcastle initially stayed in touch through goals from half players Judyta Turulska and Alina Inta. However, the away team’s more potent attacking plays and solid defence line, combined with some wayward shooting from the increasingly frustrated Vikings, helped them stretch out an eight goal lead. Line-player Sandra Christke and Inta eventually found the back of the net, but by half-time the Vikings were ten adrift at 4-14.
Two more Inta strikes at the start of the second half gave the home side hope of an unlikely comeback, and while the second period was more evenly matched with a better defensive display from the Vikings, the damage had already been done. Newcastle kept pressing and added goals through Turulska, Christke and a brace from player-coach Marlen Slinning returning to action after injury. But they were unable to pull the game back any further, and by the time Inta scored a late fifth the Hornets had run out convincing winners.
Newcastle Vikings: Andrea King (GK), Meghan Acres, Marlen Slinning (2 goals), Judyta Turulska (2), Sina Linsenmann, Blessing Ogbee, Paulina Szulc, Alina-Anisca Inta (5), Sandra Christke (2)