Tertnes secured a decisive 31-29 victory over Larvik Tuesday in a matchup of Norwegian Eliteserien handball teams, demonstrating the rising team’s strength against a historically dominant opponent. Larvik, former champions wiht a remarkable winning streak from 1999-2017, faced financial challenges in recent years but appears to be rebuilding. This contest highlighted Tertnes’ current momentum and Larvik’s ongoing efforts to reclaim its former glory in the league.
Tertnes – Larvik 31-29: A dominant performance from Tertnes saw them defeat Larvik 31-29 in a thrilling matchup of Norwegian Eliteserien handball teams.
Larvik, a historically dominant force in Norwegian handball, once enjoyed an incredible run of success, winning the Eliteserien every season from 1999/2000 to 2016/17 with the exception of a single year.
Cecilie Leganger, Karoline Dyhre Breivang, Linn-Kristin Riegelhuth og Heidi Løke jubler. Larvik vant kampen under mesterligafinalen mellom Itxaco og Larvik i Paplona tilbake i 2011.
Foto: Kyrre Lien/NTB
The club also claimed a Champions League title in the 2010/11 season and were twice runners-up in the competition. However, financial difficulties in 2019 led to Larvik losing its Eliteserien license – a similar fate to Vipers Kristiansand last year, though Larvik’s period of dominance was far more extensive.
Larvik suffered a six million kroner loss due to an unsuccessful investment in a leisure park. The club’s finances quickly deteriorated, falling into a twelve million kroner deficit within a couple of years, and required a bailout from creditors. But now, the club appears to be back on solid footing, securing a bronze medal in Sara Berg’s first season last year. They entered Tuesday’s match in third place, five points ahead of Tertnes, and also claimed an NM silver medal in December.
Tertnes Claims Decisive Victory
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The former powerhouse is showing signs of revival, but Tertnes demonstrated on Tuesday that Larvik still has work to do to return to its former glory.
Tertnes raced to a 21-15 lead at halftime, and quickly extended their advantage after the break, scoring the first two goals of the second half. Sara Lauritzen then broke a more than eight-minute scoring drought for Tertnes, pushing the score to 24-20.
With three minutes remaining, Tertnes held a two-goal lead, setting the stage for a dramatic finish. Ultimately, Tertnes secured a 31-29 victory.
Tertnes – Larvik 31-29 (21-15)
Eliteserien handball, women. Åsane Arena. Referees: Christoffer Fjeldskår and Tim-Nicolai Ganz-Fjellvang.
Tertnes: Helle Kjellberg-Line, Kadija Mårdalen – Stella Waagan Kruse 7, Birgitte Karlsen Hagen 6 (3 penalties), Nora Evelina Cecilia Rosenberg 5, Sara Eline Lauritzen 4, Rikke Midtfjeld 4, Emma Holtet 3 (1), Avril Mikkelsen Frei 1, Martine Hellesø Knutsen 1, Maria Bergslien Gald, Marie Kristine Rokkones Hansen, Fanny Skindlo, Marthe Hatløy Walde.
Top scorer Larvik: Tirill Mørch 5.
Exclusions: Tertnes: 2 x 2 min. Larvik: 2 x 2 min.
The win sparked celebrations and confetti on the court.
“It was incredibly fun. We started so well and maintained it for most of the game. We made it a little too exciting, so I got a bit nervous,” top scorer Stella Waagan Kruse told TV 2 after the match.
Former Player Shines Against Old Team
Nora Rosenberg, formerly of Larvik, scored five goals against her former club, a team her mother, Lina Rosenberg, also starred for.
“I’m happy with that. That’s how it is. It’s really motivating to win here. Now we’re just going to keep pushing forward,” the Tertnes player said to TV 2.
Nora Evelina Cecilia Rosenberg
Foto: ARNE RISTESUND
Mamma Lina Olsson Rosenberg.
Foto: Morten Rakke/NTB
The win keeps Tertnes in the hunt for a medal, three points behind Larvik, and likely means Larvik will have to wait another season to return to the top of the table, with Sola and Storhamar currently battling for first place.
Despite the loss on their home court, Berg doesn’t regret her move from Bergen to the historic club. She believes Larvik continues to provide the infrastructure for top-level competition.
“Yes, many of the training sessions are during the day, it’s pretty close to a professional setup,” says Berg, who also works part-time at a residential facility outside of handball.
Strong Connection for Former Teammates
“I feel like we’re on our way back to the top of Norwegian handball. The club is building a roster to compete,” says Berg, who has seen significant playing time on the left wing this season.
The 24-year-old has scored 50 goals and two penalty shots so far, and added one goal against Tertnes on Tuesday.
“It’s going okay. Up and down, but I’m reasonably satisfied,” she told BA.
She isn’t alone in making the move from Fana to Larvik. Goalkeepers Dina Frisendal and Olivia Lykke Nygaard have followed the same path.
“Yes, now we’re a little Fana clique, so the atmosphere is good here,” she laughs.
