Heartbreak for Hawks

HANDBALL:

NEM HAWKS came within seconds of ending Liverpool Wolves’ 100-per-cent record in the open-age Development League (North), losing 21-20 at Birchwood.

The young Hawks handball team, depleted to just eight players through injury and unavailability, did well to hold Wolves to a 9-8 lead at the break with winger Jamal Braithwaite firing three in a row.

However, they looked to be heading for a heavy defeat when the Liverpool side’s influential European pair hit top form to open up a 19-14 advantage midway through the second half.

But with Wes Hunt hitting five second-half goals from left wing and captain Stefan Whaley holding his nerve with three successful penalties, they clawed their way back to lead 20-19 with a minute remaining. Then in a frantic finale, Wolves equalised.

Braithwaite fired wide when put clean through on a counter-attack and Hawks saw their opponents bag the winner in the dying seconds.

Earlier, Hawks had outplayed an inexperienced Wirral outfit 32-12 with ’keeper Marc Howard showing the form which has taken him into the England under-19s squad with an impressive 61-per-cent save ratio.