CICAR Lanzarote Ciudad de Arrecife has run out of options to fight for promotion at the first hurdle, suffering their second defeat on Saturday night in the Promotion Phase to the Guerreras Iberdrola League. The San José Obrero players had another bad match on the court, putting in a disastrous first half against Grafometal La Rioja and playing in bursts in the second half to end up losing by a narrow 21-22.
The Lanzarote team knew how to read the 4:2 defence set up by Grafometal La Rioja perfectly in the first few minutes of the match, and were the team that enjoyed the first advantages on the scoreboard. Gema Trujillo converted a seven-metre throw to put the score at 3-2.
The good start to the match was a mirage and CICAR Lanzarote Ciudad de Arrecife gradually faded away in attack. Errors in passing, loss of possession and poor selection in the final shot began to creep in. Martina Cecilia, from the pivot, put the Rioja team ahead and Andrea Loscos increased the difference, forcing David Betancort to call a time-out (5-7).
Far from improving the situation for the home side, the match began to slip away from the San José Obrero players, who were tense in attack and alive thanks to the opposition's mistakes in attack. Esther Lacueva and Cristina Viñuela increased the lead to five goals (6-11). From the local bench, they were ordered to leave the goal free in attack and attack with seven players, in search of solutions.
In the final minutes of the first half there was a timid reaction from CICAR Lanzarote Ciudad de Arrecife, achieving a 3-0 partial with goals from Danielle de Sousa, Gema Trujillo and Nagore Saenz. At half-time the score was 10-13 in favour of Grafometal La Rioja.
CICAR Lanzarote got fully into the fight for the victory in the first minutes of the second half. With a strong 6:0 defence and with Ana Marín's saves between the posts, the Rioja team began to have problems in attack. Goals from Natalia Montilla, Gema Trujillo, Alicia Torres and Bruna Gonçalvez, helped the home side to regain the initiative on the scoreboard (16-15).
Nerves were palpable on the court, with mistakes from both teams and the difference being minimal. Grafometal La Rioja took the lead with a goal from Beatriz San Isidro from the left wing, an action that occurred when San José Obrero was at a disadvantage in defence, with Alicia Torres injured and the referees not stopping the match.
Minutes later they did stop the match in a similar action, preventing the counter-attack of CICAR Lanzarote Ciudad de Arrecife. Through the left wing of Beatriz San Isidro, Grafometal La Rioja found a vein, being in charge of scoring the last goals of her team and putting the 20-22 on the scoreboard.
There was no time for reaction and with the result of 21-22 the match came to an end, leaving CICAR Lanzarote Ciudad de Arrecife without options to fight for promotion to the Liga Guerreras Iberdrola on the last day. A final day in which San José Obrero takes on Vino Doña Berenguela Balonmano Bolaños and Grafometal La Rioja will play for promotion against Gurpea Beti Onak.
Technical Sheet
CICAR Lanzarote Ciudad de Arrecife (21): Ana Marín, Nagore Saenz (5), Alicia Torres (3), Gema Trujillo (6), Lorena Montilla (1), Bruna Gonçalvez (1) and Nabila de Ganzo (3) -starting team- Yarisa González, Danielle de Sousa (1), Sara de León, Miriam Páez, Natalia Montilla (1), Acerina Martín, Marta Morales, Paula Robayna and Ahinara Hernández. Coach: David Betancort
Grafometal La Rioja (22): Elena Rodríguez, Beatriz San Isidro (3), María Boklashchuk (5), Martina Cecilia (2), Valentina Learreta (1) ,Lucía Carrascón and Andrea Loscos (2) -starting team- Tatiana Lozano , Elena Navarro, Cristina Viñuela (2), Esther Lacueva (1), Carla Rivas (4), Andrea González (2), Ángela López, Lucía Ladrera. Coach: Manu Etayo.
Partial scores every 5 minutes: 3-3, 5-7, 5-7, 6-10, 7-11, 10-13 (break) 12-15, 15-15, 16-16, 18-19, 20-20, 21-22 (final)
Referees: Enrique Pérez González and Luis Díaz-Flores Gómez-Calcerrada. They excluded Nabila de Ganzo (1), Nagore Saenz (1) and Lorena Montilla (1) for CICAR Lanzarote Ciudad de Arrecife and María Bok (1), Valentina Learreta (1) and Carla Rivas (1) for Grafometal La Rioja.
Incidents: Titerroy Municipal Pavilion, some 600 spectators. Match corresponding to the 2nd day of the Liga Guerreras Iberdrola
