Newcastle Vikings’ women’s and men’s team scored a magnificent double over Leeds Carnegie in their England Handball North Regional Development League match at Temple Park Leisure Centre in South Shields on Saturday 29 November.
The women were first up, with the prospect of having to play the full match with just seven players.
However, they commanded the game from the first whistle. By half-time the Vikings had stormed into a 13-2 lead, thanks in large part to four goals apiece from head coach Marlen Slinning and captain Sandra Christke, plus a hat trick from Judyta Turulska. Gesa Junge and Kathryn Powell also got on the scoresheet, while goalkeeper Andrea King pulled off another penalty save at the other end as the Newcastle defence kept Leeds at bay.
The second half followed a similar vein, with the home side remaining strong and showing no obvious signs of tiredness either in defence or attack. Another four goals from Christke and further hatricks from Slinning and Turulska, plus a brace from Marie Brevet at either end of the half meant all six outfield players got on the scoresheet. With only one more goal conceded at the other end, the Vikings’ domination saw them to their biggest winning margin with a resounding 25-3 victory.
Newcastle’s men came into their match buoyed by their draw away to Manchester in their previous match, and soon started to put an array of mesmerising new training court moves into play. Lead by five goals from Stephan Stricker, plus a brace each from Simon Heintz and Mark Harrison, and strikes from coach Jason Lee, Jonathan Bastit and Neil Bhandary, the Vikings took a 12-5 advantage into the half-time break.
Leeds fought back hard as the second half became far more evenly balanced, but winger Heintz kept the Vikings’ scoreboard ticking over with six more goals, while another three from Stricker saw him also take his match tally to eight. Scott Garrow’s early brace, with captain Chris Bowe and Mark Harrison also chipping in, and a penalty save from goalkeeper Faisal AlBathali, helped Newcastle to a richly deserved 26-19 first league victory in two seasons.
Newcastle Vikings women: Andrea King (GK), Marie Brevet (2 goals), Marlen Slinning (7), Gesa Junge (2), Judyta Turulska (6), Kathryn Powell (1), Sandra Christke (8).
Newcastle Vikings men: Faisal AlBathali (GK), Sam Turner, Chris Bowe (1 goal), Simon Heintz (8), Jason Lee (1), Stephan Stricker (8), Scott Garrow (2), Robert Thompson, Neil Bhandary (1), Jonathan Bastit (1), Mark Harrison (3), Thomas Harrison.