UHK Krems and Barnbach/K. shared the points in a 28:28 draw at the HLA on Wednesday evening. The home side had looked to be building momentum before the final whistle, but the visitors refused to let the lead slip away. It was a result that keeps both sides in the middle reaches of the table, though Barnbach/K. remain the firmer side on paper.
Before kick-off Krems sat 11th with three points from six games, while Barnbach/K. occupied seventh with six points and an unbeaten record. The draw does little to shake either position, but it ends what had been a promising run for the visitors. They had won their last two fixtures, including a comfortable victory over Föslauer HK, and looked poised to extend that streak.
Krems' recent form had been mixed at best. They had drawn with Ferlach on Sunday but lost to Föslauer and Hard in the weeks before. The home side showed flashes of promise against Füchse in September, but consistency has eluded them all season. Barnbach/K., meanwhile, had won three of their last five but also suffered losses to Tirol and Graz that keep them from pushing higher.
We had backed Krems at 56 per cent confidence, but the match refused to follow that script. The visitors took control in the closing stages, matching Krems' output when it mattered most. There was no dramatic turnaround, just a steady resistance that the home side could not break down.
The scoreline leaves Krems on three points and Barnbach/K. on seven after seven games. Neither side has much to celebrate, but the visitors have at least kept their unbeaten run alive. Krems will need to find more edge if they want to climb from 11th place.
