CSM Constanța — Cluj: 30:24, Liga Nationala

CSM Constanța beat Cluj 30:24 on Saturday in the National League, the opening round of fixtures for both sides this season. The hosts wrapped up three points on home ice after a hard-fought contest that didn't always look comfortable. Three points from three games now sits Constanța on two points in seventh place, while Cluj remain winless in eleventh.

By then, Constanța had already shown they could grind out results. Their last three outings before this weekend included a 23:24 loss to Vaslui and a 22:23 defeat at Dinamo Bucharest, with a 26:24 win over CSU Suceava rounding out that sequence. Cluj's recent run was heavier going — a 27:35 hammering by CSU Suceava and a 19:27 loss to Minaur meant they came in needing momentum.

And here's the thing: we had called a home win at 60 per cent confidence before kick-off. The odds made sense — Constanța's defensive structure looked sharper, and Cluj's away record from last season suggested vulnerability against compact opposition. They got what they expected, though not without running into trouble.

To be fair, the scoreline didn't tell the whole story of a match that could have gone either way. Constanța found their rhythm after a shaky first half, while Cluj's three draws so far show they're not collapsing — they're just not closing out games. The goal difference now sits at +6 for Constanța and -10 for Cluj after three rounds.