Second leg formality for Drammen

Norway be will represented in the Men’s Champions League for the second year in succession. After Sandefjord IF reaching the group stage last season, current Norwegian champions, Drammen HK, will play in the competition this year. Drammen defeated the champions of Cyprus, SPE Strovolos Nicosia, by 30-27 at home in Drammenshallen – one of the venues of the upcoming Men’s euro 2008.

Drammen qualify for the Champions League after 10 years.

Big advantage from 1st leg

The return match was sheer formality after Drammen won the first leg in Cyprus last weekend 38-26. The 12 goal lead from the first match meant, of course, that Drammen were sure to qualify for the group stage already before the second leg, and therefore the hosts never had to fight for the aggregate win and they could take things rather easy. As a result, Strovolos could stay closer to the Norwegians than in the first leg.

The 950 spectators in Drammenshallen saw the hosts lead 15-13 at half time and they added just one goal to this lead after the break. The Norwegians won by three at the end, 30-27 and 68-53 in aggregate.

Veteran Glenn Solberg – played for SG Flensburg Handewitt and in the Norwegian national team before – was the top scorer with no less than 11 goals.

Drammen will meet good teams in the group stage, such as Ciudad Real, Flensburg and Zaglebie Lubin.

Lubin will be the first opponent for the Norwegian team in the group phase – away on Friday 28 September.