The A1 Regional League has finished this weekend, with tournaments in Kranj and Niš.
Primorje secured 1st place, beating Vojvodina in the 10th round, and became the first team that qualified for the relegation playoffs. Today, Valis joined Primorje.
According to most predictions, it was expected that Vojvodina would go to the playoffs along with Rijeka.
However, in the last round, the Novi Sad-based team lost to Valis in a tense match. Valis thus climbed to 2nd place and will battle for a place in the Premier League.
A1 Regional League, Stage 3
Group in Kranj
Round 9
Valis – Proleter 19:11 (2:1, 5:4, 2:1, 7:4)
Cattaro – Vojvodina 9:18 (1:3, 3:4, 2:8, 3:3)
Triglav – Primorje 7:11 (1:2, 2:1, 2:4, 2:4)
Round 10
Cattaro – Proleter 12:19 (4:4, 2:3, 5:7, 1:5)
Primorje – Vojvodina 11:8 (3:2,4:2, 2:3, 2:1)
Triglav – Valis 11:15 (3:4, 3:0, 4:9, 1:2)
Round 11
Proleter – Primorje 11:9 (2:2, 3:0,3:5, 3:2)
Cattaro – Triglav 14:12 (4:1, 4:2, 2:3, 4:6)
Vojvodina – Valis 14:15 (2:3, 3:4, 4:3, 5:5)
Vojvodina and Primorje had perfect records before the tournament in Kranj. Both teams had 24 points after the first two stages. In the 9th round, Vojvodina beat Cattaro, while Primorje defeated host Triglav, and their encounter in the 10th round was decisive in a battle for 1st place.
Primorje built a 3-goal lead in the first half and managed to maintain the difference until the end and cement the top position.
On the last day, Primorje lost to Proleter, but that defeat couldn’t endanger their first place.
Vojvodina did not recover from the defeat to Primorje.
In the last match of the A1 League, Vojvodina needed one point to stay in 2nd place. However, Valis celebrated a narrow win and earned a chance to reach the Premier League through the playoffs.
Valis led throughout the game. Already in the second quarter, Valjevo built a 3-goal advantage (5:2 and 6: 3). At the beginning of the third period, Valis led with 8: 5. However, Vojvodina cut the deficit and trailed 9:10 before the final period. Shortly after the last break, the Valjevo-based side renewed a 3-goal advantage (12: 9), but Vojvodina came close soon (11:12). From that point, until the end, the dramatic game was an exchange of goals. Vojvodina did not manage to equalize. The team from Novi Sad reduced the gap to one again (14:15). Vojvodina had the last possession in the match. Only five seconds before the end, the coach of Vojvodina, Bajin, called a time-out, but Vojvodina failed to equalize. Valis kept the minimal advantage and climbed to 2nd place.
Primorje will meet Mornar in the relegation playoffs (March 23 and 30). Valis will found out its rival this evening, after the last round in Premier League Group F in Kragujevac
Group in Niš
Round 9
POŠK – Nais 7:11 (0:3, 2:3, 4:2, 1:3)
Medveščak – Zadar 1952 11:11 (4:4, 2:1, 2:3, 3:3)
KPK Korčula – Zemun 8:19 (3:5, 4:4, 1:4, 0:6)
Round 10
Zadar 1952 – KPK Korčula 15:8 (3:3, 4:2, 3:2,5:1)
POŠK – Medveščak 11:14 (1:5, 3:4, 5:2, 2:3)
Nais – Zemun 13:8 (6:2, 1:2, 3:2, 3:2)
Round 11
POŠK – KPK Korčula 20:10 (6:2, 4:3, 6:2, 4:3)
Nais – Zadar 1952 9:9 (2:4, 2:0, 3:2, 2:3)
Zemun – Medveščak 12:13 (3:1, 4:3, 2:5, 3:4)
Host Nais and Zadar finished the tournament in Niš unbeaten. Both teams collected two wins each in the 9th and 10th tound, and faced off today. After a hard battle, the two sides shared the points. Zadar led 8:7 early in the fourth period. Nais responded with two goals and went to 9:8 with just 25 seconds remaining. But, Zadar won a point with a last-gasp goal scored seven seconds from the end.
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