Delta State Denies Team Lagos Double Victories As Sam Ocheho Invitational Handball Championship.

Lagos handball teams began their quest to win the maiden Sam Ocheho invitational handball championship with a victory and a draw as the tournament got off to an explosive start at the Sportshall of the Lagos State Sports Council, Rowe Park, Yaba.

The first match of the inter-state championship pitched Team Lagos ladies team 1 against their contemporary from Ekiti state in a one-sided game that saw the home side cruise to a 41-13 victory.

The girls from Ekiti were simply not a match for their host and the gulf between the two teams was enormous as Lagos pulled away in the first half and ripped off their hapless opponent in the second half.

The last match of the opening day was not only the best but a classic with Team Lagos male side squared up against highly charged Delta team whose vociferous approach to the contest helped them opened scoring and dictate early play.

Delta held the momentum at half time but the coach Henry Obi tutored lads exploded right from the start of the second half as the home team crawled back and build up a sizeable lead.

Team Lagos lost the urgency, constantly slowing down the pace, and they hit a self- destructive button when they evaporated in the final minutes of the explosive match.

A spirited performance from Delta helped them tied the match 23-23 as the team share the spoils and earn a point.

The round robin format championship continues on Monday inside the Mobolaji Johnson indoor sports hall of the Rowe park sports centre, Yaba withTeam Lagos ladies team 2 open proceedings for day 2 against Delta while 5 other mouth watering match up are also on the card.

The Sam Ocheho invitational handball championship organised by the patron of the Lagos state Handball Association and member, Nigeria handball federation, Samuel Ocheho is his contribution to the development of the game in Nigeria and the one week tournament is to regenerate interest for the game at the grassrooots level while preparing the players for the 18th National Sports Festival, "EKO 2012" .