Tyne & Wear’s County under-16 handball girls competed in the fourth round of the England Handball North regional league on Saturday.
With only six girls able to make the journey to Chester it was always going to be an uphill struggle against the strong Shropshire side in their opening match, but Alexandra Inta scored from the back-court in the first minute to give them early hope. Centre Naz Amin, making her comeback after a knee injury, added a second from centre, but despite some great saves from goalkeeper Bryony Coldwell the opposition had opened up an 8-2 advantage by half-time.
Second half goals for Tyne & Wear came from Zoe Barber, breaking away to fire powerfully into the top right corner, and Esther Moffit’s first county goal from the left wing. However, Shropshire scored a further six to run out 14-4 winners.
Merseyside club Peninsula forfeited the second match to give Tyne & Wear a default 10-0 win, so they then played a friendly game against Olympia Cannock. Guest Shropshire player Jamie scored six for the North Easterners, while youngster Inta found her way through the strong Cannock defence to strike her second of the day, but they were not enough to prevent the Staffordshire side from winning 13-7.
Tyne & Wear coach Marlen Slinning Goulty was nevertheless pleased with how well the girls played both in defence and in attack in both matches, showing great improvements in playing as a team and trying their very best.
Tyne & Wear: Bryony Coldwell (GK), Alexandra Inta (2 goals), Esther Moffit (1), Zoe Barber (1), Nazish Amin (1), Tahura Uddin.