Newcastle Vikings junior mixed handball team claimed their second victories over Wallsend’s Churchill Community College yesterday afternoon.
In the first of the two 10-minutes each way matches played between the sides, Churchill got off to a strong start scoring two early goals, before Vikings’ new Romanian recruit Ana Botezatu pulled one back with the first of her brace of goals. The home side’s fight-back continued as they built a 5-3 half-time lead in what was a very tight competitive match with the teams trading goals throughout.
Further scores from Ethan Patterson, gaining his hat-trick with some brilliant wing shots, supported by some excellent goalkeeping by both Cameron Reaveley and James Porter, helped the Vikings to an 8-6 winning scoreline by the final whistle.
Newcastle Vikings: Cameron Reaveley (GK); James Porter (GK / 1 goal); Krystina Coulson; Rebecca Johnson; Ana Botezatu (2); Raymond Latcham; Ethan Patterson (3); Morgan Monaghan (1); Charlie Pears (1)
The second match saw Krystina Coulson get the Vikings off to a flying start, scoring in the first minute, only for Churchill College to hit back a minute later. A superb penalty shot from Charlie Pears into the top-left corner, together with a hat-trick from Ana Botezatu and backed up by some really good Newcastle defence, helped the Vikings stretch out to a 5-1 half-time lead.
Both defence lines held strong during a much tighter second half affair, with each team only scoring one goal each in the early minutes, the Vikings ending with a well-played 6-2 victory.
Newcastle Vikings: James Porter (GK); Cameron Reaveley (GK / 1 goal); Krystina Coulson (1); Rebecca Johnson; Ana Botezatu (3); Raymond Latcham; Ethan Patterson; Morgan Monaghan; Charlie Pears (1)
Newcastle Vikings Handball Club would like to send big thanks again to Churchill Community College for coming along and participating in another enjoyable afternoon’s handball.