Newcastle Vikings Handball Club women’s and men’s teams each suffered tough returns to action after the festive break against their respective Merseyside opponents in Sunday’s Northern Regional Development League home matches at South Shields’ Temple Park Leisure Centre.
Experienced league leaders Liverpool ladies built a strong early six-goal lead before the Vikings got off the mark through the first of Alina Inta’s penalty goals. Fellow back-court players Judyta Turulska and Sina Linsenmann also both scored twice either side of captain Sandra Christke’s strike from the line position, while goalkeeper Andrea King pulled off a series of great saves as the away team’s potent attacking plays continued to break through the Newcastle defence line.
The Vikings sought to claw their way back into the game through early second-half goals from half players Turulska and Inta, but Liverpool’s 16-7 half-time advantage never really looked in danger of being reeled in.
King continued to do her best to keep the Merseysider’s at bay with several trademark diving saves between the posts, including a penalty save. But Liverpool’s powerful attack and assured defence at the other end proved to be the difference between the teams as they restricted the home side to just five goals throughout the second half, including another two Inta penalty strikes. A 24-12 win to Liverpool at the final whistle.
Newcastle’s men went into their game against Liverpool Speke Garston without a recognised goalkeeper, Kasper Ottosen volunteering to put himself in the firing line. Goals from centre Robin Devilette and wingers Wiktor Laczny and Gracjan Joppek kept the Vikings in the game early on, but the Merseysider’s soon began to take advantage of the Vikings’ goalkeeping weakness.
Laczny’s hat-trick plus further first-half goals from Devilette, Kole Viejo-Cabellero and Nichlas Foldager kept the home side going, but Liverpool were 16-8 up come the break.
The second half continued in a similar vein as Newcastle struggled to thwart Liverpool’s shooting accuracy. Half player Foldager added five further goals to his personal scoring tally, with Joppek, Devilette, Laczny, Stephan Stricker and a Viejo-Cabellero double also finding the back of the net for the Vikings. But it was Newcastle’s defensive frailty that proved to be their downfall as Liverpool Speke Garston ran out convincing 34-19 winners.
Newcastle Vikings women: Andrea King (GK), Meghan Acres, Marlen Slinning, Judyta Turulska (3 goals), Sina Linsenmann (2), Blessing Ogbee, Paulina Szulc, Alina-Anisca Inta (6), Sandra Christke (1)
Newcastle Vikings men: Kasper Ottosen (GK), Robin Devilette (3 goals), Florencio ‘Kole’ Viejo-Caballero (3), Robert Thompson, Craig Swanson, Matthew Lamb, Wiktor Laczny (4), Adam Mobberley, Thomas Harrison, Jonathan Bastit, James Porter, Stephan Stricker (1), Nichlas Foldager (6), Gracjan Joppek (2)