Kolstad and Follo played out a 30:30 draw in the REMA 1000-ligaen on Saturday, September 26th. The result means both sides remain level on four points after four games, though Kolstad sit fourth while Follo occupy eighth. By then, the home side had already shown they could win three of their opening four, while the visitors had won two and drawn two. And here's the thing — neither side has lost yet.
We had backed the hosts for victory with 72 per cent confidence, but the match refused to follow that script. What broke the prediction was not a single moment but a pattern of resistance — Follo refusing to fold when the score suggested they should. The visitors had already drawn with Drammen HK and Arenadal before this, showing they know how to grind out results. To be fair, they came into this knowing they had nothing to lose.
Kolstad had looked comfortable in their 38:36 win over Nørbo just three days earlier, and their 33:23 victory against Bergen before that suggested they were building momentum. But Follo had responded to their 32:33 defeat at Bergen with three consecutive matches without a loss. By then, the visitors had clearly found a way to compete away from home. The gap between fourth and eighth on the table meant little when both sides carried the same number of points.
The recent form of both teams tells a story of consistency rather than dominance. Kolstad's losses came against Kiele and Magdeburg — clubs with European pedigree — while Follo had only fallen to Bergen and Runnar. Neither side has shown vulnerability against mid-table opposition. The 30:30 result confirms that when these two meet, the difference is marginal at best.
The scoreline leaves both teams with something to build on. Kolstad will want to convert their home advantage into wins rather than draws, while Follo can take confidence from matching the fourth-placed side. The table at this stage is still early, but four points after four games means everyone is still in the conversation. And that is where it gets interesting — neither side can afford to drop points now.
