Livingston Handball Club coach will 'reflect' on Super Cup woe but hails top season

Livingston Handball Club boss Allan Stokes admits he’ll use the summer to reflect, after his side lost the British Super Cup final last weekend.

But Stokes says it has been a hugely impressive season, winning the Scottish Handball League for a third successive year, alongside the League Cup, Scottish Cup and Celtic Cup.

Livingston lost the final 33-21 to London GD at the Oriam in Edinburgh in what was a close contest on Sunday, having defeated NEM Hawks in the semi-final on Saturday.

Stokes’ side have been in the competition every year since its inception, and have now finished second four times and third twice.

But he’s determined to land the trophy one day, and hopes their day will come next season.

Stokes said: “It was a great achievement getting to the final. Unfortunately we didn’t quite make that final hurdle, but it was a great achievement nonetheless.

“We pushed them close, the players gave everything they had, on the day they fought for every ball, but it just wasn’t enough.

“Losing the final doesn’t take anything away from the achievements made this season.

“One game doesn’t define the season we had, and the players can be proud of everything they put into this season.

“We’ll build on it and try to go one better next season.

“It would have been clean sweep. To go through a full season having effectively lost two games all season is a strong achievement.

“It shows how well we’re doing.

“We’ll go away, reflect on the positives, where we need to improve, rest bodies, recuperate and start again.”

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