Hawks swoop late to snatch victory

Photo: Paul Sterritt

UP AND AT 'EM...Ed Page, of North East Manchester Hawks, goes for goal.

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MATHEW Barnes was the last-minute hero as North East Manchester Hawks snatched victory from the jaws of defeat in a thrilling 33-32 win over handball big guns Olympia at Oldham Sports Centre.

Trailing by three with less than three minutes to play, Hawks' young squad somehow found a way back into the match against their more streetwise London-based opponents.

With Olympia losing their discipline and their ranks reduced from seven to four with a sending off and two sin-bins as the last-minute seconds ticked down, Barnes held his nerve to net twice and the Hawks bench raced onto the court to celebrate as the buzzer sounded.

It had all looked so different as a Harry Morley scoring burst in a high-tempo game plan saw the home side surge into a lead that at one stage was as wide as five goals.

Olympia have a great deal of European experience in their ranks and having reduced that lead to 16-14 at the break then set about a more controlled approach.

By the mid-point of the second half they were level and then led by three goals after a series of superb saves from 'keeper Christopher Menzel.

It looked like his heroics would see Olympia home but coach Donna Hankinson showed her mettle by taking off some of her front-line players and freshening up the line-up.

"We would have lost that game 12 months ago and it was down to the depth in our squad that we somehow found a way to get a win," she said.

"That was some victory - the noise in the sports centre was amazing in those final seconds and it makes you realise why this sport is so massive on the continent."

The win keeps Hawks on the tail of National Super 8 leaders Warrington Wolves who beat Nottingham 33-22 to remain a point clear.

Hawks take a break from league action to face Liverpool in the National Cup next weekend before a rematch with Olympia the week after in the capital.

Olympia did have something to cheer for their long trip north - their women's team stayed top of the Super 7 table with a 33-27 victory.

Hawks' scorers -
Men's: Ryan Goodwin (9), Harry Morley (7), James Higgins (5), Ed Page (4), Jamal Braithwaite (4), Matthew Barnes (3), Marc Howard (1).

Women's: Holly Lam-Moores (11), Emily Maddison (7), Ellie Whitehead (3), Ruth Anderson (2), Harriet Richards (2), Nicola Pye (1) Nicola Quick (1).

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