Hawks pull off cup shock

North East Manchester Hawks England Handball Club are the new U18 National Cup winners

Handball
NORTH East Manchester Hawks have been crowned National Cup winners after their girls’ handball team landed a shock 11-8 victory over league champions Warrington Wolves.

But hopes of a cup double in this Hawks’ rookie season were dashed when the club's boys team lost 24-20 in their final with Olympia Cannock.

It was the under-18 girls who got the action under way in a dramatic day at Crystal Palace and Hawks' key to success was in defence where their physical effort knocked the Wolves shooters out of their stride.

At the other end Nicola Quick netted two early goals, but it was the power of captain Ellie Whitehead and line player Ruth Anderson that proved decisive.

Warrington's hopes took a big blow when England under-19s player Sophie Unsworth had to be carried off with an ankle injury.

And as the game entered its final stages in the stifling heat of the National Sports Centre, Hawks kept up a tempo that the Wolves couldn't live with and the final whistle brought wild celebrations for coaches Donna Hankinson, Sue Whitehead and the squad.

The boys final was a physical affair.

A series of two-minute sin-bins that twice saw Hawks reduced to four outfield players close to half-time gave Cannock a 13-11 lead.

Hawks were thankful to 'keeper Terry Ellis for saving a penalty on the whistle to limit the arrears.

They rallied after the break and twice levelled.

But they could never get their noses in front and a series of missed one-on-one chances proved their downfall.

So Cannock joined a winners' day rollcall that was completed by London teams Great Dane and Ruislip Eagles, who won the men's and women's finals, and the Great Britain national side who beat Finland in a European qualifying tie.

Bury-born Kathryn Fudge proving a real powerhouse in that contest.

Hawks scorers-

Girls under-18s: Warrington 8, NEM Hawks 11 (Ellie Whitehead 5, Ruth Anderson 3, Nicola Quick 2, Eliza Morgan).

Boys under-18s: Olympia Cannock 24, NEM Hawks 20 (Sam Bedlow 7, Jamal Braithwaite 3, James Higgins 3, Matthew Barnes 3, Tyrrell Coley 2, Stefan Whaley, Wesley Hunt).