HANDBALL – After a lucky draw against Bevo (30-30), Hurry-Up has enough point against Quintus in a week’s time to also play in the BENE-League next season.
René Jaspers determined the final score after an hour from seven meters. Three weeks ago against Aalsmeer, the left corner player still failed in the buzzer, but against Bevo he kept his cool. Because of the point, Hurry-Up hands over the last place to the upcoming opponent from Kwinstheul. Both teams, the numbers five and six of the HandbalNL League, will start next Saturday evening in South Holland with zero points.
It wasn’t until 3-9 that Hurry-Up started running tonight. With three hits in the last minutes, Ronald Suelmann, who will be replaced by Danish newcomer Nicolai Schoemaker (30) after the summer, even gave the home team the lead (16-14).
In the second half it remained the same at 21-21, 25-25 and after Brent Riksten’s 28-28. After Bevo’s late 29-30, Hurry-Up didn’t get a free ball in the end, but a penalty throw. Bevo goalkeeper Arjan Versteijnen threw the ball into the audience, saw red and had to watch from the stands as Jaspers celebrated the point firmly.
“I’m not going to beat around the bush. Of course I was thinking about the match against Aalsmeer. I’m just good at taking penalties and I wanted to show that,” an exuberant Jaspers responds.
Hurry-Up’s trainer/coach Joop Fiege also showed a smile: “You end up at home with a good feeling. That’s nice, but the most important thing is that one point against Quintus is enough for us now. If the problems come, you’re glad you played a draw today.”
During the last home game of the season it was busy in the hall in Zwartemeer. The home crowd said goodbye to Erik Blaauw, Bart Mik and Dragan Vrgoc after the 30-30. The latter leaves for Luxembourg after five seasons and did not keep it dry with the microphone in hand.
“The atmosphere in the hall and the joy at the end gives such a boost”, Jaspers concludes. “We have to finish next week, despite the pressure. We have the best audience in the Netherlands. Our game is not always good, but with more experience we will perform more consistently and better in the future.”