Written by: Arthur Long
Edited by: Cheng Kai Wen
Photos by: Eusoff Works
After a hard-fought preliminary stage, the Handball girls face a tough opponent, Kent Ridge, in the semi-finals. The girls took no chances for this match and started their strongest line-up of Mabel, Bowie, Rishika, Han Xi, Adele, Janice and Michelle.
The game started with Kent Ridge’s throw. Possession changes hands early on and the ball finds its way to Mabel, who does a 360 spin to avoid a defender and take a shot. Unfortunately, the shot was stopped by the keeper. Soon after, Kent Ridge gets a penalty (the first of many in this game). They capitalise and make the score 0 – 1 in their favour. Within 15 minutes, Kent Ridge puts another two balls in Eusoff’s goal. 3 – 0. Things were not looking good for the Eusoff handball girls. Then, Eusoff gets a penalty off a foul from Kent Ridge. Bowie steps up to the line. She shoots and scores to give Eusoff the break it needed. 1 – 3.
Taking shot after shot to challenge KR's keeper!
The first half ends with Eusoff at a 2 point disadvantage. At this rate, the handball girls were going to lose their chance at getting to the finals. They need to change their strategy fast to get an edge on Kent Ridge. Thankfully, the girls upped their game during the second half.
Back from halftime, Bowie takes a shot and scores the first goal of the half to close the score gap to 2 – 3. Eusoff’s leading goal scorer soon gets a 2 minute suspension after a foul on a KR player and they obtain a penalty as a result. They score the penalty to make the score 2 – 4 but Eusoff makes quick work of the next attack and scores to make it 3 – 4. Janice scores another goal to equalise at 4 - 4 before a timeout is called.
Mabel with her intense defence and accurate attacks!
Back from the timeout, KR gets a penalty seemingly for nothing but Michelle manages to save it. Janice puts another one behind the KR keeper to make it 5 – 4. KR gets another penalty, but Michelle stops the ball again. 5 minutes later, Bowie takes another shot and scores. 6 – 4 to Eusoff. Eusoff and KR trade goals to make it 7 – 5. Eusoff gets a penalty after a discussion between the referees and Bowie takes it but the shot is saved by the KR keeper. Janice takes a shot from the wing and scores. 8 – 5. KR gets another penalty (come on Ref, how many penalties are you gonna give KR?) and they put it past Michelle to make it 8 – 6. Janice gives Bowie a run for her money as top goal scorer by scoring another to make it 9 – 6. Rishika gets a 2 minute timeout, awarding KR with a penalty (really Ref?). However, Michelle makes her third penalty save this game! SOMEONE SIGN HER!!! KR gets another penalty (haiz) and scores but at this point it was too late. The full time whistle is blown.
Our top score contestant #2 from D block shooting her shot at every chance she gets!
The girls have done it. With a win of 9 – 7, they have made it to the finals. What a comeback after trailing the entire first half. They will be meeting Temasek in the finals again, who they lost to in the preliminary round. The girls will be back with a vengeance so do support them for their finals!
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