JUST one year after being formed Warrington Wolves’ boys academy handball team have won a European tournament without losing a single game!
Not only did they win the Ochtruo HC Invitation tournament, they did so against all odds on Germany soil, where handball is the second most popular sport, after soccer.
The Warrington squad, made up of boys from across the town, found themselves competing against and beating players that had more than seven years handball experience.
The Warrington Wolves Academy Girls team (pictured right) were also in action at the same tournament and gave an excellent account of themselves winning 2 drawing 1 and losing 1, leaving them 3rd in the table. The Wolves girls proved more than able to compete with their German counterparts, despite losing a number of players due to injury.
Coach, Mick Hegarty, says the win marks a significant step forward for the teams, and for the sport of handball in Warrington.
He said: “Words can’t describe how proud we are of the boys and girls. Every single one of them made a great account of themselves, and it’s great to see new, young local players enjoy the sport and win in the fashion that they did.”
Hegarty, who is also Performance Director for the England Handball Association, believes this could be the springboard to even more young people taking part in the sport.
“Handball is such a fast, fun sport that most newcomers fall in love with it straight away. I believe that this tournament, and more like it, will instil a winning handball culture in Warrington that more and more young people will want to be a part of.”
Top picture shows the victorious boys team and coaching staff
