Newcastle Vikings’ junior boys and girls enjoyed a fun mini-handball tournament on Saturday in two 2 x 10-minute matches at Temple Park Leisure Centre.
The first game saw the Red and Purple 5-a-side teams both playing very well and evenly matching each other throughout the first half, with Daniella, Andrew and Alexandra’s brace for the Reds being levelled by Ana’s hat-trick and one from Esther for the Purples. However, the Purple’s were too strong in the second half as goalkeeper Gabriel kept a superb clean sheet, while Esther fired in a hat-trick of her own at the other end with some great wing shots with Ana also adding her fourth for an 8-4 victory. All four of the boys playing in goal made some brilliant saves, Wojciech and Daniel switching with Simeon and Gabriel in the second period.
The Purples continued to dominate in the second game with Daniel playing a brilliant game between the posts to thwart the Reds attacks. Esther and Ana each struck their second trebles of the day, with Joseph also finding the back of the net as they opened up a 7-2 lead by the break, Simeon and Andrew each finding the top corners for the Reds. However, Simeon’s second-half hat-trick of fast-break goals dribbling the length of the court was not enough for the Reds to pull the game back, as Gabriel scored his first goal playing outfield, Ana notched her fourth and Esther and Joseph both scored twice more to give the Purples a 13-5 final score win.
Coach Marlen Slinning Goulty was pleased to see everyone playing so well and enjoying the games, and also extended her thanks to Blessing Ogbee for refereeing and table official Alina Inta doing the scoring.
Red team: Daniella (1 goal), Alexandra (2), Wojciech, Simeon (4), Andrew (2).
Purple team: Esther (9 goals), Ana (8), Daniel, Gabriel (1), Joseph (3).