Nærbø moved into seventh place with a 31-25 victory over Kristiansand in the REMA 1000-liga on Friday. The away side took control early and never looked back, extending their advantage over the hosts to three points in the standings.
Kristiansand had come into this fixture sitting tenth with 20 points from 26 games. They had only lost twice all season, but this result ended a run that saw them unbeaten in their last five outings. To be fair, Nærbø had been the more consistent side this term.
The visitors, now level on 23 points with Kristiansand's rivals above them, had shown steady improvement throughout the campaign. Their record of 11 wins and 14 draws from 26 matches put them firmly in the upper half of the table. By then, the pressure had shifted to the home side.
Recent form told the story of both clubs. Kristiansand had beaten Kragerø 40-25 in their most recent league fixture, while Nærbø had rattled off wins against Rykker Stavanger and Aarhus in quick succession. This match simply revealed where the balance of power sat.
The result means Kristiansand remain in the lower mid-table region, still two defeats shy of their season total. Nærbø, meanwhile, close the distance on the teams above them and keep their European ambitions alive.