The 2017’s New Zealand Club Champs were hosted by the Wellington Handball Community and played at the ASB Sports Stadium.
The Vikings Handball Club entered one men and one women team into the competition, with the men team aiming for repeating their title from last year, and with the women team focusing on developing further their team play and hoping to pick up a few wins on the way.
Let’s start with the Vikings women team.
The team started with lots of players unable to attend due to injuries, sickness and other reasons, so the actual squad on day one of the tournament was minimal. The team though played hard and fought brave each game, unfortunately the women team wasn’t able to win any of the games.
Vikings HC vs Hutt Valley Hunters HC 16:39
Jensen; Maddy 7, Laura 4, Bridget 2, Siri 1, Ellie 1. Hannah 1, Taye
Vikings HC vs Sparkz 13:24
Jensen; Maddy 7, Bridget 4, Laura 2, Siri 2, Sue 1, Hannah, Te Mapihi, Taye, Jane
Vikings HC vs Otago Uni HC 19:26
Jensen; Maddy 7, Laura 6. Bridget 5, Te Mapihi 1, Taye, Hannah, Siri, Sue
Vikings HC vs Vic Uni Ravens HC 17:29
Jensen; Maddy 6, Bridget 4, Te Mapihi 3, Nina 3, Hannah 1, Siri, Taye, Sue
The Vikings men team started already on Friday night and looked forward to compete in a group of five teams and three of those five teams (including the Vikings) were expected to be up there playing for the tournament win. With such strong competition it was clear every game counts and also potentially the goal difference.
The team started very well with wins over the Vic Uni B team, the Brisbane Wolves and the Spartanz. On Sunday morning though, the team faced the Canterbury Quakes who was unbeaten until this game too and so the winner of this game will proceed to the final.
That was worst possible time on Sunday morning 8 am for the Vikings men to collectively didn’t play to their potential but congratulations to the Quakes who played very well and deserved to progress to the final.
In the small final the Vikings played better and secured the third place in the 2017 National Club Champs.
Vikings HC vs Vic Uni HC B 45:15
James, Cassius; Daniel 9, Paul 8 Todd 7, Jack 6, Harry 5, Alex 5, Miguel 3, Angus 1, Luke 1, Riley
Vikings HC vs Brisbane Wolves HC 30:27
James, Cassius; Luke 10, Daniel 5, Riley 4, Harry 4, Jack 2, Miguel 2, Todd 1, Alex 1, Sam 1, Paul, Angus
Vikings HC vs Spartanz 36:21
James, Cassius; Angus 6, Alex 6, Luke 5, Todd 5, Riley 4, Harry 3, Miguel 2, Jack 2, Sam 2, Paul 1
Vikings HC vs Canterbury Quakes HC 18:27
James, Cassius; Luke 6, Todd 3, Daniel 2, Angus 2, Jack 1, Harry 1, Sam 1, Miguel 1, Alex 1
Vikings HC vs Auckland Pirates HC 38:30
James, Cassius; Luke 10, Daniel 7, Jack 5, Todd 5, Alex 5, Miguel 4, Sam 1, Harry 1, Angus
Overall it was a great tournament, seeing so many players and teams from across the country and also having an Australian club team there was awesome. James Weston, one of the mens goalkeeper won the “Goalkeeper of the tournament” award and Vikings players are ranked in both scorer lists within the Top 10 (Women – Maddy 5th, Bridget 10th; Men – Luke 3rd, Daniel 6th & Todd 9th).
It was also great to see that a lot of our young club members have blossomed during the games and improved further skills and confidence on the Handball court, well done both teams!!!
Also congratulations to the Northern Aguilas HC who won the men competition and the Vic Uni Ravens HC who won the women competition.
Both teams played great tournaments and can call themselves now the official NZ Club Champions 2017.
All detailed results you can find under “Competitions 2017/NZ Club Championships 2017”