- Dames
Play-outs (D): HDM narrowly wins, Rotterdam on fire
The ladies of Rotterdam and HDM have taken the first step in the battle for retention in the Tulp Hoofdklasse. Both big league sides won their first match in the best-of-two against a promotion league side on Saturday. HDM was narrowly too strong for Leonidas (1-0) at home and Rotterdam was a size too big for Nijmegen: 4-1.
HDM started the match strongly and rewarded itself with a racy tip-in by Roos Alkemade from the first penalty corner. Yet Leonidas did not let themselves be beaten. The Rotterdam team got a grip on the match, used more physical strength in matches and had a great chance to equalise through Nina Rondberg. However, she was unable to tip the ball in at the far post.
After the break, HDM stepped up the pressure and created chances for 2-0 through Kaat Walhof and a number of penalty corners. Yet the difference remained minimal and that gave Leonidas hope. It got those in the final minutes of the match.
First there was a great chance for Babs Uijtdewilligen. Her shot hit the post. Then Leonidas got a penalty stroke after Lisette Korink was run upside down at a penalty corner. Minke Boeijenga got behind the ball, but she missed from the spot. So no 1-1, but a 1-0 deficit that Leonidas must reverse on Sunday at home to still force promotion.
Rotterdam put itself in an extremely good position to keep its place at the highest level in the double-header with Nijmegen. The team of coach Jorge Nolte, who took over from Jordy van der Waart just before the play-offs, was too strong for Nijmegen. It was 4-1.
Joy Haarman opened the scoring by cashing in on Rotterdam's first penalty corner. Just before that, Pieke van der Plas and Noor Omrani had been dangerous for the Rotterdam team. With two goals, Amber van den Dijssel took the score to 3-0. First she doubled the score by tapping in from close range after a long corner, and after half-time Van den Dijssel slalomed into the Nijmegen circle and goalkeeper Nathalie Kubalski had no answer to the flaming backhand.
That did not satisfy Rotterdam's hunger. Lotte de Heer scored the 4-0 from a penalty corner. The score seemed to increase further, but the post prevented a fifth Rotterdam goal.
Nijmegen kept fighting and got rewarded in the closing stages. Emma Sophie Hessler took the awarded penalty stroke to make it 4-1. Nijmegen will have a hell of a job to do on Sunday to secure promotion to the Tulp Hoofdklasse.
