The first round of the inaugural North East handball tournament took place in York on Sunday. However, with Durham University’s handballers unable to make the trip due to transport problems, Newcastle Vikings and York Hunters were left to battle it out between them.
The Vikings men went into the day’s matches missing a regular goalkeeper, which York duly exploited. A 16-12 victory in the opening game was later backed up by a 10-6 home win in the second men’s match of the day as York grabbed the opportunity to score an early advantage.
With York unable to field a full women’s team, a couple of friendly mixed men’s/women’s matches were instead played in between and after those men’s matches. The Newcastle side gained a modicum of revenge with a 9-5 win in the first game, while the final game was drawn 12-12.
The second round of the three-way North East tournament is scheduled to take place at Newcastle Vikings’ home venue, Temple Park Leisure Centre in South Shields on Saturday 30 January 2016.