In one of their best matches to date, the handball players of Drenth Groep Hurry-Up in Zwartemeer were too strong for Volendam. The North Holland leader was defeated 40-41.
The Volendammers were clearly no longer used to losses, because immediately after the epic battle the grapes were quite sour. They were angry that the referees blew the visitors’ final shot attempt for intrusion with just seconds left. Immediately afterwards the match was over and the whole of Hurry-Up celebrated, jumping and shouting. The audience stood in the stands applauding.
Despite the dissatisfaction of leader Volendam, Hurry-Up’s victory was undeniable. The Zwartemeerders were on their toes from the start and grabbed the Volendammers by the throat with fast and aggressive play. This immediately led to a 20-18 lead at halftime for the men of Drenthe coach Sven Hemmes. Hurry-Up had to deal with another injured player due to the absence of Sander Bos. That is why Hemmes had once again supplemented his team with players who usually play in the Premier League in the Oosting E&O/Hurry-Up combination team.
Daan Molenbroek fits in well at Hurry-Up
This season, power man Daan Molenbroek made his first appearance in the BeNe League with a substitute appearance against Volendam. The Emmen native immediately made his contribution with three goals and his work in coverage at Hurry-Up. That coverage started to work better and better. Ephrahim Jerry was able to score through the middle a number of times too easily in the first half. Later this was made much more difficult for him.
And when balls did come through, the Croatian goalkeeper Boris Tot was often an obstacle in the Hurry-Up. In the second half the battle continued for a while until the accurate Hurry-Up once again gained the upper hand. In fact, few weak spots could be identified among the Drenthe people. The young playmaker Emiel Hoogland served his men with beautiful passes, which they knew what to do with. The corner players were on a roll at Hurry-Up: Harm Meijer scored six times, while Portuguese star Goncalo Gracio was the top scorer for the Drenthe with ten goals. Like an unstoppable TGV, he charged at the Volendam goal a number of times during fast breaks and finished fatally.
Brent Riksten impresses with his interceptions
Brent Riksten, who made nine, impressed by intercepting a Volendam pass several times. This was followed by a lightning-fast attack, in which Riksten or a fellow player scored. This all led to a 37-32 lead seven minutes before the end for the Zwartemeerders, who had their victory within their grasp. Volendam, however, pressed again and crept closer again.
In the final phase, in which Jorick Pol excellently replaced Tot as goalkeeper, the visitors made it very exciting by reducing the difference to 41-40. Hurry-Up then failed to play out the remaining seconds calmly and lost the ball. The Volendam desperate attack that followed found no mercy in the eyes of the Belgian refereeing duo due to a foul. A draw instead of a win would have been undeserved for the Zwartemeers.