Hawks’ wings clipped

HANDBALL:

NORTH-EAST Manchester Hawks found the overseas experience of Leeds Met too hot to handle in their latest open-age development league clashes.

The women’s side lost 20-14 to the varsity outfit, while the men’s team went down 33-20 in matches played at Birchwood, Warrington.

In the early-morning women’s clash, the young Hawks outfit found the Met’s Danish ’keeper in superb form. The talented students team also included Nicola Quick, player-of-the-year at Hawks last season and now a fresher at the West Yorkshire university.

Hawks fought hard, especially in a great spell at the start of the second half when they reduced the gap to a single goal, but Leeds produced a powerful finish.

The men’s match started at a frantic pace with Tyrell Coley firing a pair of spectacular strikes on the counter-atttack and, with captain Stefan Whaley breaking clear time and again, they led 5-2.

That brought an early Leeds time-out, but they did not panic and with their vast experience among a strong foreign contingent, Leeds slowly recovered to lead 14-9 by the break.

Coach Donna Hankinson could do little to counter the Leeds power with three players absent through injury, but they plugged away bravely in the face of some physical challenges.

Jamal Braithwaite scored four fine goals late in the game.