Canberra went one step closer to a direct semi-final spot, on Saturday, defeating second division team Hills Blaze at home – 28:19 (14:8 at the break).

Blaze’s best moment in the game came midway through the second half, when left wing Luis Frey scored 4 consecutive goals to put his team within three goals of Canberra (22:19). That was also the last goal for Blaze as Canberra hit back with six unanswered goals to finish the game.

The ACT Handball Association was invited to help launch Play for Life, at Evatt Primary school yesterday.  The national campaign is the initiative of Australian Sports Commission (ASC) to encourage kids to join sporting clubs and get active.

The Ambassador for the ‘Play for Life...join a sporting club’ campaign, Johanna Griggs spoke to the students and teachers about the benefits of joining sports clubs. Also present were several high profile athletes and other dignitaries.  

The school hall was then turned into a mini-handball court where Australian Institute of Sport athletes helped run several mini-handball games for the school children. The ACT Minister for Sport and Recreation, Andrew Barr, joined in as well taking the opportunity to try his jump shot and comment about the athleticism of the game.

Over the last two years, the ACT Handball Association has worked closely with the ASC to provide handball to over 20 primary schools in the region.  ACT Handball has also helped run several Gala days involving hundreds of children.

Local handball star Alice Keighley will be taking on the world’s best next month, when she travels to Singapore to represent Australia at the Youth Olympic Games.

Alice, who played for the ACT in u16 and u18 National Championships, over the past two years, is one of 14 players selected into Australia’s first Youth Olympics handball team.

Alice was selected following strong performances at the recent junior national championships in Sydney. This will be her first appearance in Australian colours.

The NSW u16 girls team completed the championship double for their state with a convincing 13:6 win over Queensland, in Canberra today. NSW drew with Queensland in their round one game but started this game on a better note, taking a 5-1 lead in the first ten minutes.

From then on, NSW was in full control, giving Queensland little chance to get back into the game.

The competition’s top scorer Laura Ridley of NSW took the lead in scoring again with six goals, bringing her tally to 26 in three games.