On day 2 of the Nationals, the tournament went into full flight and saw a total of 18 games played across three courts. Most of the results were close which shows that the quality and depth of the tournament has increased and clearly the audience loved it.

The Vikings women faced on day 2 at first the Austago Shags, The Otago University team with some guest players from Australia. The Vikings started strong and went quickly to a 4:1 lead and until the 35th minutes, this lead kept roughly the same (15:12). Then, the Handball gods left the Vikings and over the next 15 minutes we could not put the ball in the back of the net and instead tested the durability of the goalposts. In the meantime, the opposition scored goal by goal and was suddenly 15:20 in the lead. At the end, the scoreboard showed 21:26. A well-deserved win for the Otago team but the Vikings women felt like there was more in it for them.
In the second game of the day, the Vikings women faced the Cook Islands team. Given all the other results, we couldn’t qualify for the final any more but with a 21 goal win, we had the chance to secure a place in the small final. The game started as we hoped and we were building a quick lead (6:0) in the first 10 minutes. Further along, we increased the lead (10:2, 16:4, 20:5) but we also left a lot of chances unused and as you could have known, it came down to the wire. With 5 seconds to go and a 20 goal lead (30:10), we had a penalty and yes we scored – 31:10, the exact goal difference we needed to advance into the Bronze match on Sunday.

The Vikings men team faced with the first game of the day, the Victoria University team (VUW). A known oppposition from the Wellington League and we were clearly the favourite. Given yesterday’s draw it was clear that the pool win came down to who will win with the largest goal difference against VUW, The Otago team or us.
The Vikings team started strong (6:2) but then missed out on a few too many opportunities and VUW could stay in the game until the 25th Minute (12:11). With the last sprint before halftime, the Vikings had built a 3 point goal difference (15:12).
In the second half, we knew we had to push the tempo and minimise our defensive lapses. And yes we did, our defence forced more and more turnovers and our efficiency in attack raised as well. Still, we let many scoring opportunities out and at the end, we had a 39:28 win on our site. But would that be enough?
Yes, it was, the first surprise, the Otago team won only by 7 goals against VUW (Thank you VUW!!!!!!) and second surprise of the day, the Spartanz team beat the Fruitflies. With that constellation, the Vikings were ranked 2nd best team at the end of the pool round and therefore directly qualified for Sunday’s semifinals.
After the Quarterfinals (Auckland won against Canterbury and the Otago team won against the Fruitflies), the semifinals in the men competition are Vikings vs Auckland and Northern Aguilas vs Otago.

Let’s bring on Sunday, it’s finals day!!!!

Men – results – day 2
Pool A – Vikings HC vs Victoria University HC 39:28 (18:16)
VIK: Laurin S, James W, James N; Miguel A (8), Paul I (6), Nico P (5), Daniel T (4), Liam M (4), Bjoern B (4), Nino D (2), Alex B (2), Patrick D (2), Jay M (1), Harry I (1), Sam C
VUW: Jerome L; Felipe R (8), Luke N (6), Fabia S (3), Syloun P (3), Matt C (2), Milan C (2), Chris R (1), Sean F (1), Liam A (1), Patrick W (1)< Santiago L, Freddy G, Matt S, Maxime C

Pool B – Auckland HC vs Fruitflies HC 25:26
AKL: Alex W, Alfonso M; Janneg S (11), Thomas S (3), Keller H (3), Nikola I (2), Matias L (2), Toby S (1), Henri P (1), Qassim H (1), Ahmed M (1), Nayu K, Gaston F, Tim S, Roland v.d.T, Pepe R
FF: Stefanos H, Cassius P-L; Luke I (12), Adam B (3), Max N (3), Raphael C (2), Michael F (2), Josh B (2), Brendan C (1), Lachy H (1), Edmund C, Jack G, Francis V

Pool C – Northern Aguilas HC vs Cook Islands HC 28:14
AGU: Yoshi W; Tim R (6), Nick S (6), James P (5), William S (4), Max B (4), Pavlo P (2), James C (1), Zac J, Tyler W, Jono R, Cameron R, Tim B
CI: Dyrell A (4), Paul v.E (2), Willynn K (2), Henry K (1), Jesse T (1), Kavius A (1), Peteru P (1), Logan A-W (1), Dominique K (1), Peter T-J, Ryan N, Nathaniel P, Thomas TSamuel P

Pool A – Otago Shags HC vs Victoria University HC 33:26
OTA: Alex B; Riley F (5), Gus H (5), Caedyn W (4), Bernhard A (4), Magnus H (4), Ludovic G (3), Mitchell L (2), Joe M (2), Akashdeep S B (2), Eoin M (1), Aston L (1), Jackson M
VUW: Jerome L; Felipe R (11), Luke N (6), Freddy G (3), Matt S (2), Matt C (1), Liam A (1), Seah F (1), Syloun P (1), Milan C , Santiago L, Maxime C, Chris R, Fabio S

Pool B – Spartanz HC vs Fruitflies HC 31:26
SPA: Rhys M; Nick P (7), Jordan G (7), Aidan C (6), Antoine D (5), Kishore B (3), Scott B (1), Frederic H (1), Ezra S (1), Willy M, Te Hoera S, Frank G, Hayden O
FF: Stefanos H, Cassius P-L; Luke I (7), Lachy H (6), Brendan C (4), Adam B (4), Edmund C (2), Jack G (2), Josh B (1), Raphael C, Michael F, Francis V, James B

Pool C – Canterbury Quakes HC vs Cook Islands 20:13
CAN: Justin C; Drew M (5), Phil E (3), Axel M (3), Julien P (3), Peter E (2), Hayden J (2), Willy S (1), James W (1), Ondreij D, Paul P, Nicolas G, Sergiu P, Petr S
CI: Lucky N (3), Willynn K (2), Thomas T (2), Paul v.E (1), Ryan N (1), Jesse T (1), Dyrell A (1), Kavius A (1), Nathaniel P (1), Henry K, Peter J, Samuel P, Peteru P, Logan A-W, Dominique K

Quarterfinal – Auckland HC vs Canterbury Quakes HC 23:16
AKL: Alex W, Alfonso M; Thomas S (4), Tim S (3), Matias L (3), Ahmed M (2), Janneg S (2), Toby S (2), Gaston F (2), Nikola I (2), Qassim H (1), Keller H (1), Henri P (1), Nayu K, Roland v.d.T, Pepe R
CAN: Justin C; Phil E (3), Ondreij D (3), Peter E (2), Hayden J (2), Axel M (2), Petr S (1), Willy S (1), Drew M (1), Nicolas G (1), James W, Sergiu P, Paul P, Julien P

Quarterfinal – Otago Shags HC vs Fruitflies HC 40:33
OTA: Alex B; Gus H (10), Caedyn W (5), Bernhard A (5), Aston L (4), Akashdeep S B (4), Mitchell L (3), Eoin M (3), Riley F (3), Magnus H (2), Ludovic G, Joe M
FF: Stefanos H, Cassius P-L; Luke I 13, Brendan C (7), Adam B (4), Edmund C (4), Jack G (1), Michael F (1), Jared P (1), Raph C, Lachy H, Josh B, Francis V, James B

Place 7-9 – Victoria University HC vs Cook Islands 22:21
VUW: Jerome L; Luke N (5), Felipe R (5), Matt C (5), Syloun P (3), Maxime C (2), Freddy G (1), Liam A (1), Fabio S, Patrick W, Sean F, Matt S, Milan C, Santiago L, Chris R
CI: Lucky N (6), Jesse T (5), Paul v.E (3), Ryan N (2), Willynn K (1), Dyrell A (1), Peteru P (1), Samuel P (1), Logan A-W (1), Dominique K, Nathaniel P, Thomas T, Kavius A, Henry K, Peter J

Women results
Pool A – Victoria University HC / Spartanz HC vs Auckland HC 19:23
VUW/SPA: Abbey L, Jordan T; Rowan M (7), Sam G (5), Meli P (3), Frances B (2), Valerie C (1), 小野寺遥奈 (1), Antonella C, Kathleen G, Erin R-M, Lottie J, Laura M, Paola N
AKL: Chrissy M; Guiliana K (6), Agnes K (5), Helen D (4), Maëlys B (4), Leonie J (3), Milena J (1), Angela L, Jule S, Asta M K, Sarah M

Pool A – Canterbury Quakes HC vs Hutt Valley Hunters HC Juniors 26:20
CAN: Tamara S; Tiffany B (5), Erika M (4), Noemie P (4), Jaclyn P (3), Florence G (3), Bec W (3), Mariel A (2), Melissa V (2), Danielle M
HVH-JNR: Valini V (4), Faith H; Kiara D (7), Waimarie W (4), Hine L (2), Mercy-Lea T-L (2), Metiria D (1), Aneko W, Brenna A, Tawhirikura D, Leonie P, Charis P, Phoenix P, ELe P

Pool B – Austago Shags HC vs Hutt Valley Hunters HC 15:14
OTA: Chi N; Laura P (3), Jessica F (3), Alex M (2), Mathilde C (2), Tess F (2), Kate D (1), Briony S (1), Berna C (1), Jessie W, Elizabeth T, Cassandra D, Shannen S-S
HVH: Andre M; Ailish A (3), Acacia S (3), Bella A (3), La W (3), Georgia B (2), Bridget K, Hope H, Meghan W, Taylor G, Tahndae W, Te Hau W

Pool A – Canterbury Quakes HC vs Auckland HC 28:30
CAN: Tamara S; Jaclyn P (11), Noemie P (8), Florence G (3), Melissa V (2), Erika M (1), Tiffany B (1), Bec W (1), Mariel A (1), Danielle M
AKL: Chrissy M; Sarah M (7), Maëlys B (5) , Agnes K (4), Guiliana K (4), Helen D (4), Milena J (3), Leonie J (2), Asta M K (1), Jule S, Angela L

Pool B – Austago Shags HC vs Vikings HC 26:21
OTA: Chi N; Mathilde C (7), Tess F (6), Laura P (5), Alex M (5), Jessica F (2), Kate D (1), Briony S, Shannen S-S, Cassandra D, Elizabeth T, Jessie W, Berna C
VIK: Kristina H; Charline K (5), Maddy H (5), Ida P (3), Inga Z (3), Merle A (2), Bridget I (1), Paris T-F (1), Ella A (1), Nele G, Maya M, Izzah S, Ruby O, Rosa C, Laura K

Pool B – Cook Islands vs Hutt Valley Hunters HC 9:25
CI: Dalen P (4), Shannon v.E (2), Malee T (1), Maxine M 91), Paereima W-C (1), Tiare K, Maureen K, Rangina A, Kura S, Quila H, Tekitha T-I, Dallas T
HVH: Andre M; Ailish A (7), Bella A (6), Georgia B (5), La W (3), Hope H (2), Tahndae W (1), Te Hau W (1), Taylor G, Meghan W, Bridget K, Acacia S

Pool A – Victoria University HC / Spartanz HC vs Canterbury Quakes HC 25:23
VUW/SPA: Abbey L, Jordan T; Erin R-M (), Sam G (6), Rowan M (5), 小野寺遥奈 (3), Meli P (2), Frances B (1), Antonella C, Kathleen G, Valerie C, Vannessa M, Lottie J, Laura M, Paola N
CAN: Tamara S; Jaclyn P (8), Melissa V (6), Tiffany B (3), Florence G (2), Mariel A (2), Erika M (2), Danielle M, Noemie P, Bec W

Pool A – Auckland HC vs Hutt Valley Hunters HC Juniors 24:26 (9:12)
AKL: Chrissy M; Leonie J (6), Agnes K (6), Guiliana K (5), Sarah M (4), Maelys B (2), Milena J (1), Angela L, Helen D, Asta Marie K, Jule S
HVH JR: Valini V; Waimarie W (7), Ele Paasi (6), Brenna A (6), Aneko W (3), Hine L (1), Kiara Davidson (1), Metiria D (1), Mercy-Lea T L (1), Phoenix P, Charise P

Pool A – Vikings HC vs Cook Islands 31:10 (14:3)
VIK: Kristina H; Inga Z (9), Ida P (7), Bridget I (5), Madeleine H (3), Nele G (2), Merle A (1), Ella A (1), Paris T-F (1), Maya M, Georgia M, Izzah S, Ruby O, Rosa C, Laura K
CI: Malee T (2), Maxine M (2), Paerima W-C (2), Tekitha T-I (2), Dalen P (1), Quila H (1), Tiare K, Shannon v.E, Maureen K, Rangina A, Kura S