COVID-19 restricts the BHL weekend to just two games

October 23, 2020

Despite having a great plan to make Estonia as this weekend’s battleground for the Baltic Handball League with eight matches scheduled in four cities, COVID-19 has yet again stepped in and altered the plans. Six of the eight matches are postponed, as three teams cannot travel to Estonia, so the weekend will only see leader ZRHK Tenax Dobele play against HC Kehra/Horizon Pulp&Paper and Viljandi HC.

The Board of Baltic Handball Association (BHA) very carefully examined the facts and with regret came to the conclusion of postponing six matches. The situation with COVID-19 is currently serious in all Baltic States, in addition national team matches are starting soon and travelling in big groups across borders is not encouraged by any of the health officials.

Team members of Granitas-Karys Kaunas and HC Dragunas Klaipeda have had contacts with persons, who had tested positive for COVID-19. Therefore BHL Board decided they cannot travel to Estonia. And Celtnieks Riga cannot play either due to the fact that several team members are not allowed to travel.

On the positive side, ZRHK Tenax Dobele is the only travelling team with no issues, so the current BHL leader will cross the border to Estonia and are happy to play two matches. Tenax meets HC Kehra/Horizon Pulp&Paper on Saturday and Viljandi HC the day later.

All three teams playing this weekend have long history in the competition, but have not met for a while. Tenax and Kehra last time came across back in 2017/18 season with the Latvian side winning both home and away. Viljandi played against Tenax in 2018/19, losing only by three goals away, but suffering a 14-goal defeat at home.

This weekend’s BHL matches:

24.10.  19:00  HC Kehra/Horizon Pulp&Paper – ZRHK Tenax Dobele

25.10.  18:00  Viljandi HC – ZRHK Tenax Dobele

On photo: ZRHK Tenax Dobele is the only unbeaten team in BHL and Oskars Arajs their best scorer with 27 goals. (Photo: Celtnieks).