Handball News, March 31 2010 by Frazer Snowdon

Issue 114 March 31 2010

GB Coach Holmris Issues Rallying Call GREAT Britain women’s head coach Jesper Holmris has backed his team to compete with Iceland in their Euro 2010 clash at Crystal Palace National Sports Centre today (Wednesday), despite injury problems in his squad. Two players have been ruled out through injury, while both the main goalkeepers are recovering - but Holmris is still upbeat about their chances. Both Jeanett Andersen and Ewa Palies have not joined the squad because of injuries picked up playing for their clubs, while both goalkeepers Sarah Hargreaves and Laura Innes are recovering from injury. However, both have trained this week and expect to play a part in the game. Amondine Webb has joined the team, while debutant Marie Gerbron gives Holmris an extra option on the right. “We’re looking forward to the match, but unfortunately we have a few injuries,” he said. “It’s particularly frustrating for

Ewa because she hasn’t been able to play for us in official matches before she is released by the French Federation, and now she is free she’s injured.

Positives “Both our main goalkeepers are coming back from injury, but Cerys Walker has come back into the team just for this camp which is great to cover the goalkeeper situation. “But there are positives for us - we’ve brought Amondine Webb into the team at late notice, and the injuries will mean more court time for Kathryn Fudge which is good for her. “And our new player, Marie

Ruislip overwhelm Olympia WOMEN’S National League leaders Ruislip Eagles maintained their devastating form when they secured an emphatic 31-11 victory over Olympia at Leyton on Sunday. The reigning champions, Ruislip faced an under-strength Olympia side, but were wary of a team who shocked title rivals Great Dane a few weeks earlier. The Eagles began well enough but missed six good chances to build an early lead. Olympia kept pace with Eagles in terms of goals until Ruislip’s coach called a relatively early time out to stem the flow of missed chances. Once back in action the Eagles responded well and opened up a seven-goal lead by half-time with Sposi and Telek dominant on the fast breaks.

Olympia battled well through Torgnes and Selneas, but Ruislip stepped up a gear in the second half with plenty of fast breaks and an imposing defence that restricted Olympia to just four goals in the second half, with stand in goal keeper Papenfuss having another good game. Sposi was in fine scoring form and netted 11 goals. With another win in the bag, the Eagles will need to maintain their good form as they prepare for three matches against Great Dane. The first is a warm-up match at Crystal Palace on Wednesday afternoon prior to the Great Britain v Iceland clash, but that will be followed with back to back league games against Great Dane in a period which could well prove crucial.

Gerbron, gives us other options. She’s a right wing but can play at right back too which means we can swap Lyn Byl to right back also which gives us more options. “For me, the Iceland match is more about process than the goals. They are a very good team. They beat Austria which was a shock, but I GB Head Coach Jesper Holmris. still hope that we can compete “Of course the result is with Iceland. important, but for us it’s not “They had a very good underreally about winning or losing 21 team a few years ago and we it’s about our process goals. are now seeing them come We have a plan of progress in through to the seniors. They which we need to be also have some experienced competitive with Iceland by players, so it’s a good mix. the end of 2010 and I think They’re robust, tall and have a we’re on track to meet that aim.” good attitude in the team.

Tryst Give Scottish League Leaders a Rough Ride SCOTTISH League leaders Gracemount continued their dominance - but had to battle hard to overcome a strong Tryst side on Sunday. There was nothing to choose between the two sides in a close first half with Gracemount leading by one goal at half time. But they went three ahead after a strong start to the second half, and their depth on the bench proved vital to holding on to win. Robert Schotten scored 15 for Gracemount, while Bruce Hunter scored 11 for Tryst. Second-placed Glasgow beat Cumbernauld in third 32-19 after a strong start which saw them five ahead after just ten minutes.

While Glasgow only had eight players for the game, Cumbernauld also struggled with many young and inexperienced players. Seven goals each from Danos Sagias, Bora Sieng and Christoph Boettger made up the bulk of Glasgow’s goals, while James Jule and James Johnstone scored seven each for Cumbernauld. EK82 battled hard in search of their first league win, but they could not overcome a Liberton side who were aiming to finish fourth in the league and went down 27-23. Colin Reid scored seven for East Kilbride, while for Liberton Zellen Johannes scored ten.

Handball News is produced by Snowdon Sports Media Partners Ltd for the British Handball Association For more details please contact 0845 230 0803 or log on to BritishHandball.com or EnglandHandball.com

Issue 114 March 31 2010

Great Dane Open Up Lead in Play-Offs DEFENDING champions Great Dane extended their lead at the top of the Men’s English National League play-off table to three points after notching up an emphatic 47-23 victory over Salford in Liverpool on Sunday.

Previously just one point ahead in the sixteam end of season playoffs, Great Dane took full advantage of Manchester’s narrow 2327 loss to Cambridge. Still second, Manchester are now just one point ahead of Cambridge in the play-offs. And with a tough clash against Great Dane at Leyton on April 11 to come, Manchester’s hopes of wrestling the title away from Great

Dane appear to be slipping. Jordi Torres scored ten goals in Great Dane’s victory, while Juan Pedro added eight and Martin Kubisa six. For Salford, Woodall and Tamaroui scored six each, but it was not enough. Eleven goals from Tomasz Lasek was not enough for Manchester who lost out to Cambridge. 10-12 ahead at half time, Cambridge’s top-scorers were Paco Fernandez with seven

and Gregoire Massimi with six. In Sunday’s other clash, Olympia maintained their challenge with a Great Dane’s Jordi Torres - ten goals against Salford in Sunday’s play-off clash. 46-30 win over Nottingham as Dane and the Southern-based Great teams continued to Manchester. Cambridge dominate the play-offs. After a break for Easter, will be aiming to move the play-offs resume on up the table when they April 11 at Leyton SCORE take on Nottingham, Centre in London, where the main clash will be while Olympia face between the top two, Salford.

Results, March 28 Men’s English National League (Play-Offs) (Greenbank, Liverpool): Manchester 23 Cambridge 27, Salford 23 Great Dane 47, Nottingham 30 Olympia 46.

HANDBALL clubs are being encouraged to apply for grants of up to £1,000 from the Cash 4 Clubs funding scheme.

Previous grants have been awarded to the Southampton Canoe Club which received a grant of £1,000 to buy junior paddles and safety equipment. The Rugby Sea Cadets received a grant of £1,000 to maintain and replace safety equipment, while Ipswich Basketball Club received a grant of £1,000 to initiate a new women's team aimed at the Over-16s League.

More than £30,000 was given out to clubs across a range of sports in 2008, with the money able to be used for improving facilities, buying new equipment, gaining coaching qualifications of just For more details go to helping the club survive. www.cash-4-clubs.com

Men’s Scottish League: Glasgow 32 Cumbernauld 19, Gracemount 37 Tryst 30, Liberton 27 EK82 23.

Fixtures, April 11 Men’s English National League (Play-Offs) (Leyton, London): Olympia v Salford, Cambridge v Nottingham, Great Dane v Manchester.

Men’s English Lge (Play-Offs) Great Dane Manchester Cambridge Olympia Salford Nottingham

Diff

Pts

6 6 6 6 6 6

5 4 3 3 2 0

1 0 1 0 0 0

0 2 2 3 4 6

51 38 17 0 -48 -58

11 8 7 6 4 0