Four teams set for Round 3

Following Round 2 of the Women’s Challenge Cup, during which eight teams vied for places in Round 3, four teams from four countries have qualified for the next phase.

Three of them finished the job with wins in the first-leg game, and one match-up was decided in a double header played on Friday and Saturday.

Turkish Zagnosspor had absolutely no trouble at home in Trabzon, where they hosted Bosnian side ZRK Ilidza for two matches.

The home team removed all doubt as early as the first half of the first-leg game, leading 19:9 at the break before finishing with a 10-goal win at 33:23. On Saturday they were even more superior and won with a decisive 37:16.

DHB Rotweiss Thun SPL 1 were essentially through to the next round after their 34:17 win at home against ASD Ariosto Pallamano Ferrara, and it seemed the Swiss team could afford to take things a bit easier in the return match in Italy.

They were in for a shock however, when Ferrara led 13:11 at half-time of the second match. But the Italian squad could not hold on to the advantage and in the end Rotweiss returned to Thun with a 28:24 win.

Helvetia BM Alcobendas also took a major step towards the next phase in their first match of Round 2. Their 23:17 win in Macedonia against ZRK Kumanovo gave the Spanish side a very good chance of proceeding, and they made use of the advantage to win the return match at home as clearly as 31:15.

CS Madeira took a 36:34 lead with them from their visit to Austria’s SSV Dornbirn Schoren in the first leg.

In the second match at home, 10 goals from left wing Sara Rodrigues Goncalves made a fine contribution for the Portuguese team’s victory. After being in front 17:9 at half-time, Madeira celebrated the Round 3 berth with a 30:20 win.