Newcastle Vikings Handball Club’s men’s team let slip a 12-11 half-time lead to go down 26-29 away to Liverpool Speke Garston in Sunday’s England Handball North Regional Development League encounter.
Wingers Adam Mobberley and Great Britain Under-21 international Niall Flanagan set the ball rolling for the away side. Holger Schulz added one from the line position before centre Mohammed Ghuloum’s brace. Captain David Topacho also fired in from the back-court, before the wingers took control again with a double from Matthew Lamb and three more from Flanagan to give the Vikings a narrow one-goal lead at the break.
Ghuloum’s hat-trick at the start of the second half was split only by one from right-half Jonathan Bastit. Liverpool nevertheless edged in front. Schulz, Flanagan and Bastit each scored again, while at the other end goalkeeper Daniel Walsh pulled off some good saves between the posts to keep Newcastle in the game. Ghuloum scored two more and Flanagan also grabbed his seventh of the game on the fast-break, but despite four late strikes from half Topacho the Vikings were unable to claw themselves back as Liverpool Speke Garston held on for the 29-26 win.
Newcastle Vikings: Daniel Walsh (GK), Craig Swanson, Matthew Lamb (2 goals), Mohammed Ghuloum (7), Adam Mobberley (1), Niall Flanagan (7), Jonathan Bastit (2), David Topacho (5), Peter Schichtel, Holger Schulz (2).