A Weekend of Fierce Battles for the Handball Players

On Friday, 8 February, the Tenax Dobele handball team faced their fiercest rivals, Celtnieks Rīga, in an away match in Riga. Due to illness, Dobele were unable to field Ansis Bilkštis, Andis Ērmanis and Antons Šuleiko. The Riga team were also without Artūrs Lazdiņš and Rihards Leja because of injuries. The Riga side have strengthened their squad with Robert Berg, a student from Germany. Unlike in their previous meeting, Dobele no longer have Nils Kreicbergs in their squad; since January, he has been part of the Finnish champions Riihimäki Cocks.

Dobele took the lead at the start of the match, leading 7:1 in the 10th minute. However, Riga are not a team that gives up and, showing their fighting spirit, levelled the game and reduced the deficit. The first half ended 13:10 in favour of Tenax. At the start of the second half, Dobele began making numerous technical errors and, on several occasions, failed to score against the well-performing Riga goalkeeper Raitis Puriņš. In the 38th minute, Riga levelled the score at 15:15, and by the 45th minute they were leading 20:17. In the 50th minute, Dobele improved their play and brought the score to 23:23. In the 59th minute, Elvijs Lazda put Tenax ahead 26:25, but Riga’s Russian legionnaire Vladislav Košman responded by levelling the score at 26:26. Dobele had the final attack, but were unable to score. The match ended 26:26 (13:10).

Goals: Nils-Aivis Miķelsons – 6, Nikita Pančenko – 6 (1), Egils Politers – 5, Oskars Arājs and Elvijs Lazda – 3 each, Armands Usāns, Aleksandrs Krastiņš and Renats Hovratovičs – 1 each. Ingus-Kristians Jonuška, Kristians Pavlenko, Vladislavs Fots, Andris Domanskis and Kristaps Krivmanis. Goalkeepers: Ivars Lācis and Uldis Jansons.

On Saturday, 9 February, Dobele’s next generation, the first-league team Dobele/Tērvete, hosted league leaders Skrīveri/Aizkraukle at Dobele Sports Hall. The team had to play without the MSĢ players, who had a match of their own in Ludza.

The entire first half was a fierce contest between the two teams and ended 14:14. In the second half, Dobele gained a two- or three-goal lead, which they maintained through to the end with a strong performance, winning 26:24 (14:14). This was the league leaders Skrīveri/Aizkraukle’s first defeat.

Goals: Kristians Pavlenko – 7 (2), Kristians Kelerts – 6, Ainars Gavars – 5, Kristians Gidrevics – 3, Kārlis Krūmiņš – 2, Andris Vidovskis, Rūdis Šķupelis and Vladislavs Fots – 1 each. Kristers Gerasimjonoks, Ričards Mucinieks, Kims Berezovojs and Valts-Kristians Vīndedzis. Goalkeepers: Emils Granauskis and Ritvars Putra.

This Wednesday, 13 February, at 19:30, TENAX Dobele will play CELTNIEKS Rīga at Dobele Sports Hall.