Hønefoss took control early and saw it out against Nordstrand in a club friendly on Saturday, closing out a 32:19 victory at their home ground. The result came on 16 August, with the afternoon kick-off at 14:00 setting the pace for what turned into a one-sided affair. To be fair, the hosts had been building momentum through their pre-season schedule, and this match showed the shape they were finding.
By then, Hønefoss had already played four matches since early August, winning three and losing one to Elverum. The 32-19 margin didn't suggest a tight contest, and the away side struggled to find any foothold once the hosts established their rhythm. And here's the thing — this wasn't a fixture that needed to prove anything, just a chance to test structures before the season begins.
The home side's recent run reads like a steady build: 37-17 against Asane, 33-23 with Lillestrøm, 31-22 past Bergsøy, and 28-23 over Sandefjord before the Elverum defeat. They hadn't lost a single game in four matches prior to that setback, and the Nordstrand result confirmed they were hitting their stride. The scoreline reflected a team that had stopped worrying about results and started playing with freedom.
Nordstrand arrived with their own form to consider, having won three of their last five while dropping points in two. They beat Sandefjord 30-26 on Friday, took down Bekkelaget 37-24 on Wednesday, and held Halden to 34-30 earlier in the month. But the away end never stopped complaining about the pace, and the visitors simply couldn't match the intensity the hosts brought from the opening minutes.
The final tally sits at 32:19, a thirteen-goal difference that said more about preparation than talent. Both sides still have work to do before the competitive fixtures begin, but Hønefoss at least know they can control games when they commit to the press. The friendly season moves on, and the real test will come when the points matter.