Bekkelaget claim opening victory over Ryger Stavanger
Bekkelaget started their 1. Division campaign with a convincing 33:20 win against Ryger Stavanger on Saturday afternoon. The home side made the most of playing in front of their own supporters, coming out sharp and taking control early. By then, they had already established a comfortable margin that would not be threatened for the rest of the game.
The two sides arrived with mixed recent form, though both had just begun their league duties. Bekkelaget had shown flashes of promise in their previous fixtures, including a 29:33 result against Sandefjord and a hard-fought 24:24 draw with Bøe. Ryger Stavanger, meanwhile, had tasted victory in a 35:29 win over Kjelsås back in May, but those results were from a different season.
What mattered today was the opening half. The hosts paid for a sloppy opening from their opponents, capitalising on defensive lapses to build momentum. Ryger Stavanger chased the game for long stretches, but Bekkelaget kept their nerve and ended a barren spell with this comprehensive result.
The scoreboard tells one story, but the table tells another. Both teams entered this match with zero games, zero wins, and zero points — a blank slate for the season ahead. Now Bekkelaget sit on two points in second place, while Ryger Stavanger remain in fourth, still searching for their first victory.
Three goals down at one point, the visitors tried to rally but could not find a rhythm. The high line was picked apart when it mattered, and Bekkelaget paid for those mistakes with a decisive performance. Things came to a head in the final quarter, but the home side held on grimly to secure all three points.