The Rhein-Neckar Lions are getting better and better in the handball Bundesliga. The cup winners easily defeated newly promoted HBW Balingen-Weilstetten in Mannheim with 25:21 (17:11) and jumped to sixth place in the table after their third win in a row.
After a weak start to the season, the Lions are doing well with 7:3 points after five games, all other top teams have already played six games. The best throwers of coach Sebastian Hinze’s team were national players Patrick Groetzki and Niclas Kirkelokke with seven hits each.
Goalkeeper Mikael Appelgren and right winger Patrick Groetzki were the most noticeable players for Mannheim in the early stages. After the clear lead at halftime, the Lions lost some of their lead, but managed to win against the ever-stronger Balinger over time.
Flensburg-Handewitt: Victory after two draws
Title candidate SG Flensburg-Handewitt returned to success after two recent draws and defeated Bergischer HC in a hard-fought game with 33:28 (17:14). Coach Nicolej Krickau’s team is in fourth place with 8:4 points.
Flensburg started the game badly. After five minutes, Bergische HC had taken a 4-1 lead. The guests benefited from a few mistakes that the SG made in attack but also in defense. It was only towards the end of the first period that the hosts found their way into the game. Simon Pytlick capped a 4-0 run for the hosts to take a three-goal lead at the break.
After the break, the interaction between the two Danish world champions Pytlick and Lukas Jörgensen was perfect for the Flensburg team. With his goal to make it 29:24 (52nd), Mads Mensah Larsen made the preliminary decision.
Third win of the season for VfL Gummersbach
Led by left winger Milos Vujovic (seven goals), VfL Gummersbach clinched their third win of the season with a 33:28 (13:15) against HC Erlangen and has 7:7 points.