Written by Dean Shmuel Elmas
It was a very emotional Friday for the israeli handball. The champions, Hapoel Rishon LeZion, came back home for the first time since Novak Boskovic death.
The match with Bnei Herzliya started with a memorial ceremony. It was very rare to see Hapoel’s head coach, Idan Maimon, cry thru all the ceremony and even afterwards. The first half was the better one for Herzliya who led 14:19. But, Hapoel’s defence in the second half was amazing and they won 37:29.
In other matches: Hapoel Ashdod beat Ironi Rehovot 31:29. It is Rehovot’s sixth consecutive loss and they went down to 9th place. In the relegation zone: Hapoel Kiryat Ono took the two points with 32:27 on Maccabi Kiryat Motzkin and Hapoel Ramat Gan did the same with 30:23 on H.C Ness Ziona. H.C Beer Sheba did a huge step for the playoff with 29:28 on H.C Holon.
The match between Maccabi Rishon LeZion and SGS Ramat Hasharon will be played on March 5th.
In the next matchday: Maccabi Kiryat Motzkin – Hapoel Ashdod, Ironi Rehovot – H.C Holon, H.C Beer Sheba – SGS Ramat Hasharon, Maccabi Rishon LeZion – Hapoel Ramat Gan, H.C Ness Ziona – Hapoel Rishon LeZion, Bnei Herzliya – Hapoel Kiryat Ono.
Credit – Hadar Van Colle, Israel Handball Federation
