Big relief

Hard bounce back with victory against the champions

(Bild: ALPLA HC HARD/Alexandra KOESS)

After the Hard handball team had failed to get past a home draw against Bad Vöslau at the start of the new season, Hannes Jon Jonsson's squad suffered a bitter and unnecessary defeat in Schwaz. It was clear that they were already under a lot of pressure going into the clash against champions Linz - but they handled it with aplomb.

It took twelve minutes before Dejan Babic put the Harders 7:6 in front in the rematch of the previous season's final against champions and Super Cup winners Linz. The runners-up were then able to consistently extend their lead to 16:11 at the break.

There was hardly any way through for the champions Linz against Harder's defense.(Bild: ALPLA HC HARD/Alexandra KOESS)

Harder's Lennio Sgonc converted four of his five chances to score.(Bild: ALPLA HC HARD/Alexandra KOESS)

Goalkeeper Golub Doknic impressed with a 36.11 percent save rate.(Bild: ALPLA HC HARD/Alexandra KOESS)

The home side also played with great confidence in the second half in the Sporthalle am See, hardly giving the visitors a chance and even pulling eight goals ahead at one stage. In the end, the team of Head Coach Hannes Jon Jonsson celebrated a well-deserved 29:23 victory, its first full win in this HLA Champions League season.

"We battled for 60 minutes and the commitment of all our players was top," said hard-man Golub Doknic, who admitted: "The situation wasn't easy before the game, but in the end we were able to record a clear victory today and we can all be satisfied with that."

In the second Friday game of the HLA Champions League, HSG Graz held on to a narrow 16:15 lead at the break against Shwaz in front of its own fans to win by a wafer-thin 32:31 in the end.