Bern secured a 30:28 victory over RTV Basel in the NLA on Wednesday evening. The hosts improved to 2 points from 2 games, while the visitors remain without a win after two matches. To be fair, the result reflects a narrow margin between sides that have both been grinding out results rather than dominating.
Third place sits Bern at with one victory and one draw. RTV Basel occupy ninth, having drawn both outings so far. By then, one might expect a home side to press for more, but handball often rewards consistency over flair.
Bern's recent run shows flashes of promise — a 34:21 win over Handball Staffa and a 44:21 triumph against KYS Schaffhausen. They have hit a wall against stronger opposition, losing 30:34 to St Gallen and 28:29 to Kadetten Schaffhausen. RTV Basel have drawn with Zurich and Tun, then suffered heavier defeats earlier in the season.
The two points gained keep Bern clear of the bottom half. RTV Basel remain level on points with no wins to show for their efforts. Cup football has its own rules, but league football demands results, and this was a small step forward for the home side.