After the amazing 20-20 draw last season, hopes we’re high for another thrilling and comparative match as Newquay travelled to play Bristol, and that’s exactly what they got.

From the go it was clear this was going to be another classic with both sides taking early chances, but with goalkeeper Geoff M making some early great saves, Newquay found themselves four up thanks to goals from Ben P, Mo and Hauke amongst others.

Newquay wasn’t to have it all there own way and as the half went on, Bristol soon struck back with there backs players having success from 9 as Newquay struggled to find a solution. Newquay went into half-time ahead with the game delicately poised.

Into the second half, Newquay’s unfortunate tradition of starting slowly crept back in with only plays called by Jurgan giving Newquay any luck at goal. Bristol took the chance to seize the match and managed to turn over the score and take a four goal lead.

Bristols left back was proving to be the biggest issue and so it fell to Adolf, Ben, Paul and Jeldrik to step up, and they did. Strong leadership from Adolf meant the goal flow stopped and allowed Mo and Hauke plenty of fast-break opportunities which they duly took.

The remainder of the match was played out goal-for-goal, with neither team managing to open up any daylight in the score.

In the end Bristol were the close victors, but it was those lucky enough to be there to watch, who truly won.

After a weekend to forget for more than one reason last season, Newquay tentatively invited Southampton back to Cornwall for this terms home fixture.

With a number of Key players unavailable including wingers Lee S, Eddie PH and inspirational captain Tristan TM, it was always going to be a challenging match.

Newquay started slowly (though not a bad as the 9-1 lead given last season) allowing Southampton to open up an early lead with only single effort goals from Jurgan K, Adolf B and Ben P ticking the score board over for the home team.

While Newquay struggled to get the ball moving in attack, they did have more success in defence with Paul B, new player Jeldrik and Kev W putting in strong central performances to limited the southampton chances meaning Newquay went into Half time within touching distance of Southampton.

Into the second half, Newquays limited numbers compared to Southampton rolling subs proved to be the main difference and as Southampton started raking up the goals, Newquays heads dropped with no apparent solution.

Eventually within the 15 minutes of the match Newquay remembered that they play handball to have a good time and mad a strong effort to finish the match much stronger then they had started either half, which they managed to do with a few fast goals from amongst others, Hauke and Kev W and an increased focus in defence.

Result wise, a match for Newquay to forgot but the feeling of all those involved only serves to drive the determination in the club to keep striving and improving to ensure they don’t feel the same again after a match.

With Reading new to the league this season, no-one from Newquay really knew what they would be coming up against as they travelled the Reading. As it turned out, it was a game some will remember more than others with the passion for Handball along with team spirit shown by the Newquay Club players, standing well above the final score.

Newquay quickly found there flow allowing for plays to pay of with Tristan MF proving to be especially effective in his shooting (5 goals, a match best), while Jurgan K and Adolf B also kept the score board moving in the right direction.

Reading proved to be effective in defending close to goal leaving Paul B and Kevin W with little opportunity to score themselves, but both proved ever effective in creating space for others. Equally Reader were fast making is hard for winger Hauke M and Ben P to get many fast break chances, but both took them when they could.

Newquay’s defence proved solid and strong, led by Tristan MF with Reading being limited in the chances, and Paul B working well out of position on left-wing sfGoalkeeper Geoff M every ready when called upon.

This all meant that Newquay were never behind until the last quarter (at this point three goals up) when a couple of poor decisions in attack and a break-down of a fast-break allowed Reading to pull level with three easy goals.

With the game tied, Newquay seemed to loose there way and fell silent in Defence and tried to force goal chances that weren’t there, giving Reading the chance to take the lead for the first time.

A quick and passionate time out from injured player Lee S got the team firing again and Newquay managed to find there groove and pulled the game level once more.

But with just a few minutes to go a serious freak head injury to captain Tristan MF meant he was no longer in the game and the Newquay players minds were thinking about there fallen them-mate, allowing Reading to take a 3 goal win.

Tristan MF spent the evening in a local Hospital for tests but is now home and recovering well. Likewise, Reading had a player end up in Hospital due to a knee injury and we hear he is doing fine.

New to the league this season and having only played a small number of fixture, Newquay didn’t know what to expect from new-boys Poole Phenix when they payed a visit to the Dragon Centre. As it was, a strong european university based team similar to many others Newquay have faced, proved too strong.

With Poole happy to read the Newquay plays and quickly break them down, in most cases, it fell to individuals, Kevin W (3), Jurgan K (5), Adolf B (4), Eddie PH, Hauke M (1) and Ben P (3) to keep the Newquay scoreline moving.

Newquay worked hard throughout in defence but with multiple Poole back players, including England International John P, happy to run and shoot from 9m, it was hard to stop Pool from keeping there noses in front.

With a half time score of 5 -12 and a final score of 17-30, Newquay did manage to show improvements in the second half in Attack, a rare occasion for the team, and its this Newquay should focus on upon when reflecting on another challenging fixture.

2014’s Sandball event on Watergate was the best yet as Newquay Seniors, and Newquay Youth, welcomed two teams from Plymouth.

A busy Watergate Bay looked on as all games we’re fast paced, competitive, and full of Sandball extravagance. Newquay Youth proved a surprise package as they overhauled Plymouth B, and ran Plymouth A very close – loosing out on a penalty shootout. For a short while they even worried the Seniors.

On the whole, Newquay Seniors bossed the event, taking victory in each game they played. It’d be rude not to win your own tournament!

Looking ahead

After another successful year, 2015’s event is already in the planning stages. On the 2nd of August 2015, Watergate Bay will once again play host to the only Beach Handball event in Cornwall. Sandball continues to grow in popularity, and Newquay Handball Club are a team competing with the best Handball clubs in England, so Sandball 2015 is due to be biggest and best event to date. With clubs expected from all over the region and potentially further afield.

Sandball is not only a great sport to play, it’s one of the most exciting spectator sports around. Never failing to entertain, with double points awarded for goals from goalkeepers, and players showboating with 360 barrel shots. There’s no such thing as a draw in this end to end game, it’s all or nothing.

There’s no better way to spend an afternoon than playing or watching Sandball, with Watergate Bay as the summer backdrop.

South West Handball saw the newest team, Newquay Handball Club, continue their league adventure by playing hosts to one of the founder members, Bristol. A score line of 27-17 in favour of the visitors, whilst not a massive defeat, does not tell a true story of what proved to be a bruising encounter.

High expectations

High spirited Newquay were boosted by the presence of David Santos and Adolf Botat, both quality additions to the squad that performed so admirably against Bath three weeks previous.

Bristol took the advantage in the easily stages, converting their chances while Newquay were narrowly off target on a few occasions. A five goal gap soon opened up.

With some tactical adjustments from coach Koenen, Newquay got themselves back in the game. Some magnificent finishing from Portuguese star Santos coupled with some strong and organised defending from Muller-Forster, Koenen and Botat, kept Newquay within touching distance of the experienced Bristol outfit.

Second half – all to play for

With Newquay still only 5 goals down entering the second half, Bristol – having expected to steam-roller Newquay – came out fighting. They looked to take the game by the scruff of the neck and silence the home fans. Newquay had other ideas. More goals from Santos and Koenen, quality finishes from Kevin Welsh, and lightning fast breaks from Eddie Percy-Hughes, meant Newquay were still in contention coming into the final 10 minutes.

Injuries and suspensions

A gruelling game was now taking it’s toll as Newquay were picking up battle injuries. Koenen suffered and arm injury, and Santos hobbled off clutching a knee. Add to this duel suspensions, and the doors opened for Bristol to take charge of the game. With depleated Newquay now chasing the game, Bristol were able to increase the deficit, much to the frustration of Newquay players.

A team in it’s infancy

A disappointing result, however much can be learned from the encounter, and taken into following games. Newquay, as a team building for a long term future, will only be stronger the more the season goes on. Players will gel, and the team gains more experience with every game.

On the 24th November, 1.30pm throw off, Newquay are at home to Oxford, the current league leaders. It is sure to be another tough test but Newquay are a team on a mission, hungry for game time and looking for that first league victory.

As the weather forecast isn’t very good for tomorrow, we decided that it doesn’t make sense to run a session on the beach tomorrow. And as there are still some guys on holiday, booking a hall might become too expensive. So there will be no session tomorrow.
But we are definitely back on next thursday, either on the beach or in the hall, depending on the weather.

As you’ll find Newquay Handball Club at “Be Active Truro” tomorrow from 11am to 3pm, there will be no session in the evening at Porth Beach as usual.

The next session will be at 15/08/2013 19pm if the weather is fine.

After browsing the England Handball I found a couple of really helpful and handy guides to the rules of both flavours of handball. Here is the Vanilla flavour: Handball

Full guide available here – Images and guide copyright EHF