Newcastle Vikings’ men were dealt a harsh lesson in their first England Handball National League North encounter with Loughborough University on Saturday as the students ran away with a big 40-13 win.
The Vikings only managed four first half goals as they struggled to break through the solid Loughborough defence line. Centre Julien Eng’s hat-trick being followed by another back-court strike from captain David Topacho, but Newcastle’s cause was further hampered when half-player Stephan Stricker saw red following two earlier two-minute suspensions and was consequently ruled out of the rest of the game. Loughborough went into the break 15-4 up.
The second half saw more goals, but continued in a somewhat similar vein as the hosts continued to piule on the pressure and extend their advantage. Cedric Le Lay and winger Fedi Boussema both found the net for Newcastle before another Eng goal and a brace from Topacho. Adam Mobberley also netted from the other wing in between another Eng treble, but Newcastle were unable to deal with Loughborough’s attacking strength at the other end as they put a further 25 goals past unfortunate Vikings keepers Daniel Walsh and Mark Harrison.
Newcastle’s next game will see the same two sides come face-to-face again in the return league fixture on Tyneside on 10 December, when the Vikings’ women also play their home league match against Liverpool.
Newcastle Vikings: Daniel Walsh (GK), Mark Harrison (GK), David Topacho (3 goals), Cedric Le Lay (1), Adam Mobberley (1), Mohammed Fedi Boussema (1), Jonathan Bastit, Stephan Stricker, Julien Eng (6).