Macedonian handball community was curious to see the biggest national derby between RK Vardar and RK Metalurg after almost a year and get a real perspective about the difference of two great rivals in the past few years after collapse of a “big Metalurg”. Vardar won 26:22 (14:11) at Play Off Round 3, and it wasn’t that easy as expected.
Dejan Manaskov netted six goals for the winners, while young Filip Talevski scored eight for Lino Červar’s team.
Vardar – Metalurg 26-22 (14-11)
Vardar: Šterbik, Milić 15 saves, Stoilov, Brumen, Toskić 1, Manaskov 6, Makeda 5, Karačić 1, Dušebaev 2, Abutović, Lazarov 2, Cindrić 4, Dibirov, Gorbok, Šiškarev 2, Marsenić 3.
Metalurg: Dupjačanec 4 saves (1 7 meter), Tomovski 7 saves (2 7-meter), Petrov 1, Madžovski, Kosteski 3, Matić 4, Vujović, Buvinić 5, Kuzmanovski 1, Jagurinovski, Kukoski, Krstevski, Taleski 8, Peševski, Palevski, Šajin.
STANDINGS:
| 1. | Vardar | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 94:69 | 9 | |
| 2. | Met. Skopje | 4 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 119:101 | 9 | |
| 3. | Maks Strumica | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 91:83 | 9 | |
| 4. | Prilep | 4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 107:114 | 6 | |
| 5. | Ohrid | 4 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 96:116 | 0 | |
| 6. | Rabotnicki Skopje | 4 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 101:125 | 0 |
