There are only gifts for the lion fans: In the last game of 2022, the Rhein-Neckar Löwen will not be naked. On Boxing Day, they celebrate their eighth win in their ninth home game with 7,741 spectators, crowning an extremely convincing first half of the season. The duel with HBL bottom light ASV Hamm-Westfalen ends 37:27 (20:12). The basis for the 14th victory in the 18th league game is the new Löwen triad of defense, goalkeeper and speed game.
The lions don’t give presents on Boxing Day either – at least not to their opponents. After a little more than four minutes it was 4-0 in the Löwen-Höhle, which was exceptionally well attended with almost 8,000 spectators. In minute 6 Mikael Appelgren lands his third save, comes to 7 at the end of the first half and is thus almost 37 percent. An absolute top value. Top, that’s once again the keyword for the lion defense. Ymir Örn Gislason and Olle Forsell Schefvert don’t let anything burn in the cover center. Together with colleague Appelgren, they form the basis for the strong Löwen start and the overall extremely convincing first half.
Juri Knorr with his third converted penalty increases the lead to four goals (7:3, 10th). Shortly thereafter, Benjamin Helander made it 9:3 with a counter-attack (11th). This distance remains for now. Hamm is gradually finding his way into the game. Above all, Jan von Boenigk on the right half becomes an asset for the guests, scoring five goals before the break, including the 19:12 just before the half-time siren. However, there is still enough time for one last lion attack, and Kristjan Horžen converts it to 20:12 at the break. It is a cohesive team performance from Mannheim that works out this clear lead. Strong defense, stable goalkeeper, great pace game: That’s the lion triad of the season so far.
Even after the break, von Boenigk remains the man who occupies the lions the most. He takes two seven meters, the second saves Joel Birlehm against Fabian Huesmann (37th). At 25:15 through Helander, the lions are in front in double digits for the first time (38th). Knorr conjures up Kohlbacher: 28:17 (41st). Now the climber is threatened with a debacle. Especially since the lions continue to use every opportunity to push the pace. And Kohlbacher simply cannot be stopped at the district. Among other things, ex-lion Mait Patrail has a hard time with what is probably still the best offensive circle runner in the LIQUI MOLY HBL. In the 43rd minute, Kohli scored five goals and scored several seven-meter throws – and finally the first two-minute penalty.
There are only gifts for the lion fans: a holiday for the whole club
After a steal and a hit into the empty goal by Patrail, the result from ASV’s point of view is at least within tolerable limits (28:20, 45th). The lions are by no means slow. On the contrary. Knorr steps on the gas, finds Forsell Schefvert: 31:22 (47th). The Swede makes an excellent game both front and back. That also applies to colleague Horžen, who makes it 32:22 (48th). Brilliant how David Späth takes away a free throw from the hammer with his first action (49th): Truly a day of celebration for the lions! The youngsters Fabian Schwarzer, David Móré and Robert Timmermeister are now also allowed to take part.
Schwarzer grabs a ball from his opponent and sprints to his first professional goal: 35:23 (53rd). Such a moment is of course duly celebrated with the lion fans, who have long been in party mode. Timmermeister follows suit, making it 36:25 (55th). Now Junglöwe Magnus Grupe is also coming, can take control of the game for the last few minutes, celebrates his professional debut and scores the last goal of the day to 37:26. All Löwen-Youngsters have earned these deployment times with great training performances. There can be no talk of gifts here. And so everyone celebrates together and exuberantly the next great handball day in the SAP Arena. Lion fans, enjoy! And slides into the New Year in a good mood.
Statistics
Rhein-Neckar Löwen: Appelgren (1st-49th, 11 saves), Birlehm (on a seven-metre throw, 1 save), Späth (from 49th, 2 saves) – Kirkeløkke (2), Timmermeister (1), Grupe (1), Knorr (11 /5), Helander (5), Móré, Lagergren (1), Groetzki (2), Forsell Schefvert (4), Horžen (4), Gislason, Schwarzer (1), Kohlbacher (5)
ASV Hamm-Westphalia: Hertlein (6 saves), Bozic (1 save) – Leventoux (2), Huesmann (4/3), Patrail (2), Schulze (1), Zintel, Pretzewofsky (1), Bornemann (2), Orlowski (3) , Dayan (3), Savvas (1), von Boenigk (6), Wieling (1)
Trainer: Sebastian Hinze-Michael Lerscht
Referee: Jannik Otto & Raphael Piper
Viewers: 7741
penalty minutes: Knorr (2), Kohlbacher (2), Timmermeister (2), Horžen (2) – Patrail (4)
seven meters: 5/6 – 3/4 (Knorr fails against Hertlein (46th) – Huesmann fails against Birlehm (37th))
Source: Rhein-Neckar Löwen / Photo: Binder
