GREAT Britain women’s handball team made it three wins from four competitive games when they beat Basque team Euskadi 31-29 on Sunday to bring to an end a successful camp in Spain.
The camp gave GB a great chance to experience a very different style of play to the Scandinavian style they are used to, but they coped well and when their more experienced players were unavailable, the rest of the team stepped up to the mark in impressive style.
Following their friendly victories over La Guardia (34-33) and Galicia (28-23), GB went into the four-team tournament involving clubs from the Basque region, and took on a full-strength Galicia outfit as well as battling Basque team Euskadi.
After two strong performances in their friendlies earlier in the week, GB went into the tournament with several key members of the squad missing.
Galicia strengthened their team for the tournament with three Spanish internationals, including Begona Feanandez Molinos who was named in the All Star team in December’s European Championship finals.
GB matched their rivals for much of the first half and only trailed 16-13 at the break, but suffered a big setback mid-way through the second half when captain Lynn McCafferty, from Cumbernauld in Scotland, fell awkwardly and damaged her back.
With newcomer Helene Vinknes from Norway and Kelsi Fairbrother from Aldershot already off with injuries, it put a huge strain on an already depleted squad and they eventually lost out 25-22.
The following day Vinknes returned to the team for their final game against Euskadi, while Solihull’s Laura Innes captained the side in the absence of McCafferty.
GB began well, racing into a 7-3 lead before going 19-12 ahead at half time. Euskadi hit back, but GB held on for victory, 31-29.
