Netherlands crowned 2015 European wheelchair handball champions

The Netherlands are the new European wheelchair handball champions following a 14:11 final victory against Portugal at the European Championships in St. Pölten, Austria on Sunday.

Norway claimed bronze with a 15:12 against Scandinavian rivals Sweden in the match for third place.

With the first championship being held in 2008, this was the second time that the European Handball Federation sought its wheelchair handball champions.

Following an even first half with the score at 6:6 at the break, Netherlands stepped into gear and overpowered their opponents in the second period.

Bartholomeus Neeft (five) and Frank Hooning (four) were responsible for two thirds of their team's goals. Portugal had their best scorer in Joao Jeronimo who netted five times.

In the match for third place Norway impressed by well rehearsed team play with seven of their eleven players putting their name on the scoreboard.

Netherlands had already been the dominating team in the group phase, winning their three matches against Portugal (18:14), Norway (11:3) and Sweden (15:8) in confident fashion.

The tournament's overview can be found at http://www.eurohandball.com/ehf/wheelchair

All-star team awarded

Following the final the championship's All-star team was named.

The Netherland's Joyce van Haaster became the best goalkeeper; Sweden's Julia Johansson, Portugal's Joao Jeronimo and Helder Farroba, Norway's Horgen Synnove and Netherland's Martijn Dokkum were named as best players.

Portugal's Serghei Mitrofan became the tournament's top scorer with 17 goals in four games.