Middlesex handball youngsters edged out in national final

Middlesex, represented by Ealing Handball Club, narrowly missed out on the boys’ national Under-16 county title after losing a dramatic final to Greater Manchester 11-10 in extra-time.

The Ealing side forced the additional period with an equaliser in the closing stages but with one minute to go, they missed a crucial penalty and watched Manchester immediately score at the other end.

It is the second year running that Middlesex have taken silver in the national competition.

The boys team had won the group stages on goal difference after victories over Somerset, Staffordshire and Greater Manchester and a defeat to Essex.

In the semi-final they met Somerset again but struggled to find their rhythm for much of the game and had to come from behind to win 7-6, scoring the winning goal with 30 seconds remaining.

The Middlesex girls team, meanwhile, shared bronze having lost to eventual champions Staffordshire 10-4 in their semi-final.

They had come through to the last four courtesy of a 4-2 win over Somerset in the group stages, despite losing to Essex, Greater Manchester and Staffordshire in other matches.

Team manager JC Lacour said: “We are hugely proud of our teams’ achievements.

“They gave absolutely everything on the day and were a credit to the London junior handball scene.”

Middlesex boys team: Saimonas Urbutis, Kacper Wojcik, Alexis Noel, Pedro Lourenco, Ruairi O’Connor-Harte, Thomas Ruitenbeek, Noah Brides, Daniel Rushton, Tarek Gharbi, Razvan Mihaila, Mateusz Florczak, Todor Nikolov. Coach: Cesar Castillo.

Middlesex girls team: Nickol Dusznik, Emeisha Joseph-Scarlett, Klaudia Las, Harlie Macmurray, Leanne Tahabashy, Zoe Tuckwell, Zoe Lacour, Ellie Stonebridge, Georgina Cincu, Alison Bell.
Coach: Melanie Chowns.