Schweriner Korfball Club e.V. ’67 – Club Esportiu Vilanova i La Geltru (referee: Ondrej Fridich)

The first match of the day is decisive for the 7^th and 8^th place in the final ranking. One would have expected that both teams would have played for a higher ranking because of previous results in IKF ECups .

To start playing early in the morning is rather unusual and that may be the reason that the score went up very slowly. At half time it seems impossible to predict who would take the seventh place (7 – 8)

Same concept in the second half. Both teams struggling to create a score difference and in cases when this seem to happen the opponents immediately close the gap! (13 – 13) When everybody settles for a golden goal the Germans prove to be the most fortunate. (17 – 16)

Trojans K C – State University –HSS (referee: Ronald Buis)

It has been a while since we have seen such a good Russian team. New outfits, a top coach and a good tactical plan, it all seem to give a revival to Russian korfball.

Trojans on the other hand, played a strange tournament. Beaten by the Czechs it took much effort to take revenge against Schweriner and we were curious how they would have recuperated.

As this proved to be a problem, Russians made it clear at halt time that there would be no discussion about the 5^th place (7 – 20)

Same scenario in the second half with a dominating Russian team that was happy to score over 30 goals! (16 – 34)

KCC Sokol Ceske Budejovice – Núcleo Corfebol Benfica (referee: Miguel Wensma)

This is all about prestige! A third place in the IKF ECup  is an indication of the progress in a country. Benfica is very determined to show that their good result from last year is not a coincidence and Ceske Buejovice struggles for the status of the past period.

Young Portuguese enthusiasm against experience by age results in 8 – 9 at the start of the real playing time. At half time the score is 8 – 13 and Benfica seems on its way to victory.

After tea Benfica is the better team! Longer preparation in the attack zone, better shooting and secure defence leads to 15 – 23 just before the end.

Both teams can be proud of their overall performance and will benefit from their ranking in the next edition. (18 – 27)

Kon. Boeckenberg K C – KZ/Hiltex (referee: Paul Jeanes)

Some injuries in the Dutch team, the ranking in the Dutch competition, ingredients for the Belgians to give it a go after many unsuccesful years. But again players in the Korfball league in The Netherlands, the strongest competition in the world, are used to battles like this and the Belgians were too impressed by the power play that they could not avoid the Dutch from dominating the first half. Only a few Belgians showed their top level and that was unsufficient to confuse KZ (6 – 13)

However in the second half a reborn Boeckenberg steadily but surely narrowed the gap creating frustration in the Dutch camp and giving a hard time for the referee (16 – 20) Silence in the camp of Dutch supporters!

The revival started too late. Long Dutch attacks, only meant for killing time, decided about the final score. Boeckenberg was the best team in the second. KZ in the first! It has been a while since we witnessed such a thrilling final

18 – 20

Megasports Warschau – Korfball Club BEOGRAD  (referee Ondrej Fridrich)

Two teams that lost with a big difference on the first day proved to have well solved their failures during unsuccessful opening games. Beograd with more athletic skills managed to take the lead after 20 minutes in the first half although it seemed that Megasports Warschau was tactically the better team.  The score difference was merely determined by the scoring opportunities which were more successful for the team from Serbia. The Polish however, very aware of the danger, managed to reduce the score during the final stage of the first half (7 – 8)!

In the second half Warschau proved to be the better team. Tactical dominance and more success in scoring resulted in the first lead although Beograd refused to decline (15 – 15 with 8 minutes to go) Surprisingly the older and therefore more experienced Polish players showed no sign of lack of physical condition and it turned out to be Andrzej Czyzak who scored the winning goal (18 – 17)

Szentendrei Korfball Klub – FJEP Bonson (referee: Paul Jeanes)

The French team played well in the beginning of the game and the scoreboard showed two equal teams (5 – 5). Maybe the Hungarians suffered from the disillusion from their unfortunate performance the day before when they could not manage to clinch the frame after a lead with 8 goals at half time.

When French passing became more difficult due to pressure  and Hungarian rebound lead to multiple shots, slowly but surely Szentendre moved away from his opponent (half time: 12 – 8)

Bad organization in the French attack and no plan to solve the Hungarian rebound supremacy was the reason that there hardy a struggle for the victory. When Szentendre started thinking about their final ranking they somewhat slowed down the tempo. This created some opportunities for the opponents to end the game with a reasonable result (18 – 14). No disappointment for the French captain who stated that Bonson played a better tournament than last year.

KZ/Hiltex – State University –HSS (referee: Sandra Anus)

Playing a Dutch team needs power and courage. This is exactly what the Russian team showed after their uncomfortable win the day before. They scored the first goal and managed to stay in the game for the first 15 minutes. Spectators surprisingly saw female Russian players taking care of rebound and assist position. Talking about a déjà vu!

Anyway the system worked and KZ played their best level to create a small margin (12 – 8) When scoring became difficult for the University due to a missed penalty and outrebounded shots, they changed the tactics which did not result in solutions against a well oiled Dutch team. Half time 17 – 8

It may be that during the second half the Russians suffered from the celebration of the victory from the day before. KZ did not have to play well to end with a 43 – 14 win.

This may not keep us from remembering all the good korfball we saw at first.

Trojans KC – KCC Sokol Ceske Budejovice (referee: Tamás Elekes)

A furious start of  the Czechs resulted in an early advantage and a time out was needed to rephrase the English tactical plan (4 – 6 after 15’) Rough play resulted in many infringements and players preferred to complain to the referee rather than to use their skills. Bad passing from both teams emerged much frustration. It seemed that Trojans had the better period just before half time with an unpredictable winner as a result (8 – 9)

A reborn English team succeeded in matching the score when the Czechs remain silent in the attack zone. Shortly after they even took their first lead. Unexpectedly however Ceske gained confidence from a few English mistakes to level the score (12 – 12).

Excitement when with 5’ left everything still remains possible for a place from one to four in the final ranking (14 – 15). After a thrilling end Ceske wins the game (15 – 16)

Núcleo Corfebol Benfica – Club Esportiu Vilanova i La Geltru (referee: Miguel Wensma)

Specialists expected the most exciting game to be the last of the day. Both teams started very concentrated but the overacting resulted in a couple of penalties for both. The battle of the Iberian Peninsula was as ever very physical with a high degree of emotion. Difficult to say, even for experienced korfball assessors, to what degree this game could develop. (10 – 10)

Spectators that went home early will regret what turned out to be the most spectacular game of the day. Quick play, strong determination, emotion on the benches and a good referee, ingredients for korfball at his best!

With 8 ‘ to play on the time clock Benfica had the lead (22 – 20) but no way that Vilanova was going to give up! When Benfica shooters proved to be the most succesful and on the other hand  Vilanova had trouble worrying the Portugese defence the game ended in a win for Benfica. (26 – 22) What a thril, what a spectacle