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.[phone][/phone]

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.