Pro Recco wins big matchup

In the sixteenth round of the Adriatic league, played on Saturday, all eyes were on the big matchup between powerhouses Pro Recco and Jug Dubrovnik. The Italian national champs got off to a good start and led 6-2 in the second quarter before a furious comeback by the Croatian national title-holders got their within one at half time: 6-5. Star goalkeeper Stefano Tempesti (pictured) returned to the international game after a long break due to shoulder injury. In the final phase, Filip Filipovic scored the 9-7 for Pro Recco but saw fellow-lefthander Maro Jokovic returning the favour scoring at the other end for Jug (9-8). A final shot by Paolo Obradovic, with just a minute to play was saved by Tempesti so that Pro Recco stays unbeaten in thirteen games so far. Another exciting match, at Herceg Novi, Montenegro, saw Primorje taking a big 9-10 away win with Ivan Buljubasic scoring three goals. The Croats led 2-7 after two quarters, but faced a tough second half as Jadran came back to within one, thanks to four goals by Ivan Krizman. But that was all the Montenegrin national Cup winners got. In the bottom section of the league, Budva got the narrow 13-12 win over POSK while the young team of Sibenik got their first win of the season at home when they defeated Slovenian representative Koper Rokava 8-5. Read more for the results and standings.

Adriatic League 2011-2012

11 February

Liga 6

Mornar BS (CRO) - HAVK Mladost Zagreb (CRO) 7-14
Jadran Herceg Novi (MNE) - Primorje EB Rijeka (CRO) 9-10
Pro Recco (ITA) - Jug CO Dubrovnik (CRO) 9-8

Liga 7

OVK POSK (CRO) - VK Primorac Kotor (MNE) 10-7
Budva m:tel (MNE) - VK Medvescak (CRO) 13-12
VK Sibenik - Koper Rokava (SLO) 8-5

The standings are now as follows:

Liga 6

1. Pro Recco 13 - 39 pts
2. Primorje EB Rijeka 14 - 36
3. Jug CO Dubrovnik 14 - 34
4. HAVK Mladost Zagreb 14 - 28
5. Jadran Herceg Novi 14 - 23
6. Mornar BS 13 - 21

Liga 7

1. Budva m:tel 13 - 21 pts
2. OVK POSK 13 - 13
3. VK Medvescak 13 - 12
4. Koper Rokava 13 - 12
5. Jadran Split 12 - 9
6. VK Primorac Kotor 13 - 4
7. VK Sibenik 13 - 3

Photographer: Henk Swinkels