Latvian handball champions SK Latgols beat Jēkabpils SS to stay top of the league

SK Latgols, the reigning Latvian women's handball champions from Ludza, beat Jēkabpils SS 38:30 (18:15) on Sunday in their first home game of the season. The match was part of the Estonian-Latvian women's handball club league and also counted towards the Latvian Women's Premier League standings. The win keeps the Ludza side first in both tables.

How the game unfolded

The visitors from Jēkabpils scored first, in the second minute, but the hosts soon took control. From 1:1, SK Latgols moved to 3:1 with three unanswered goals, and after a goal from Daniela Mickāne they led by three for the first time (5:2). Jēkabpils tried several times to close the gap, but for most of the first half Ludza held a lead of three to five goals and went into the break ahead 18:15.

In the second half the hosts gradually extended their advantage. From 20:17 they pulled away to 27:19, and the eight-goal margin was never significantly reduced.

Top scorers

Madara Grigale (Cibuļska) led the winners with seven goals. Laura Rutkovska scored five, Daniela Mickāne, Loreta Leščinska and Kristiāna Ziediņa four each, and Madara Jakupāne, Arīna Zaharāne and Patrīcija Cibuļska three each.

For Jēkabpils SS, Linda Kaņepe scored 12 goals, converting three of four seven-metre penalties. Vivita Puķinska added 10. Together they scored 22 of the team's 30 goals.

Standings

Earlier, the Latvian champions had beaten Estonian clubs HC Tabasalu (32:29) and SK Tapa (27:26), and Latvian side Salaspils SS (43:17). SK Latgols lead the combined league with eight points and have four points in the Latvian Premier League table.

Jēkabpils SS have one win this season, 29:25 over HC Tabasalu, and have lost to SK Tapa (25:32) and RSU (23:38).