Byåsen mean business this year! 

Despite the Norwegian team Byåsen having to go through qualification matches in order to gain access to the first group stage of the Women’s Champions League, the Norwegian girls’ upcoming opponents will probably have watch out – if the training tournaments are anything to go by!

This weekend Byåsen, who finished second in the Norwegian championship last season, won the Skjærgårdslekene Tournament in Norwegian town Tønsberg after having won the final no less than 28:18 against Norwegian champions Larvik HK, who qualified directly for the CL group stage, and who reached the quarterfinals of last season’s Champions League competition.

Byåsen, who are currently without one of their key players - Vigdis Hårsaker, were already leading by five goals after 10 minutes, and the score was 15:7 at half time, a few would say that the match was practically already decided at that stage. Larvik, performance seemed to be hampered by the fact that they were missing veteran keeper Lene Rantala.

Leaving two CL teams behind

The tournament contained no less than three participants of the 2007/2008 Champions League season. Apart from Byåsen and Larvik, the Danish team Aalborg DH, who are also playing in the qualification round in September, participated. And the Danes also felt Byåsen’s surprising strength.

After having defeated three Norwegian league teams Våg, Nordstrand and Stabæk – respectively 26:16, 25:21 and 27:26 – the Danes lost the semi-final against Byåsen 23:21 before securing the third place in the tournament through a 27:25 win over a further Norwegian team, Storhamar. As expected, the three Champions League participants secured the top three places in this tournament.