Ranking

Results & Schedule

Smarting from a loss to the Czech Republic last evening, Catalonia had to pick themselves up for korfball’s most difficult assignment less than 16 hours later: taking on the Netherlands, with the world champions not in a merciful mood. Rising star Ran Faber continues to embellish his highlights reel, finishing with seven goals, his team’s top scorer. Catalonia substitute Ona Pitarch, who joined the match after 17 minutes, was her team’s top scorer with four. Despite being the highest ranked team the Netherlands has yet met, the champions still overcame Catalonia by 40-14, and are set to play the also currently unbeaten Czech Republic tomorrow.

Two countries that used to be one, reunited on the korfball pitch, this time as rivals. Slovakia kept within touching distance of their neighbour for the first three quarters, occasionally surprising to take a lead. Unlike yesterday’s effort where the Czech team found scoring easier, this was a relatively low scoring match in which most players on both sides put their names on the scoresheet. In the final quarter though, as they did yesterday, Czech Republic showed their quality, and the korf, while Slovakia ran out of energy for a 21-13 result.

Although the Czech Republic came to this match undefeated, after conceding 10 goals in the first quarter and scoring none, that record was dispatched, if there had ever been any doubt. Although they always play with flair, at this point in the tournament the marquee players of the Netherlands generally start to assert themselves. In this game that included Daan Preuninger and Fleur Hoek, who scored five apiece, despite each only playing half the game: Preuninger the first half and Hoek the second. Final score: 37-9.

Warned by Slovakia’s performance yesterday, when they matched the Czech Republic for the first three quarters, Catalonia put a heavy loss to the Netherlands behind them to assert their dominance early. Greater intensity, fitness and execution prevailed. Berta Aloma and Peter Busik were effective for their respective teams, though with greater quality across the team, Catalonia’s lead was never seriously threatened, for a 17-10 victory that ensures they will compete for the rankings in the top half of the tournament, consigning Slovakia to the lower half.