The end of the first half of the season is proving long for Fertiberia Puerto Sagunto

Fertiberia Puerto Sagunto were beaten 30–28 in the derby against BM Benidorm

Fertiberia Puerto Sagunto repeated the script of their home match against Ciudad Encantada and came up against a desperately needy opponent who started strongly and found the red-and-white defence relaxed. The referees were not at their best either, applying increased strictness in the Valencian area. Latorre's side found the ideal scenario for a quality team gripped by the fear of being bottom. They soon established a sufficient lead to avoid the tight finishes that teams near the bottom of the table handle less well because of their fears. Conversely, at half-time the 17–11 score left Milos's side with few options.

Indeed, if the defence is not intense, Bruixola performs fewer miracles, and if the referees award you 10 seven-metre throws to your two, there is little more to say other than that Fertiberia are being made to pay for December in an otherwise excellent first half of the season.

The red-and-white manager Nikola Milos said after the match: “It was a very tough match. We started distracted, they quickly established a big lead and then we were chasing the game throughout, which is difficult. In the end we reduced it to two, with slim chances, but we lost and that's that. Now we have to recover, give everything and win the last home match of the year, then go on holiday peacefully.”

This Saturday, Fertiberia will conclude the first half of the season in front of their supporters from 18:30 against Atletico Valladolid.

BM Benidorm:  Mijuskovic and Calle. Marchan (3), Simonet, Hector (6), Bernabeu, Javi Sanchez (1), Ander Torrico (6), Esteban (2), Eloy, Grau (2), Salinas, Chernov, Jimenez (3), Victor Saez (6) and Cuartero (2)

Fertiberia Puerto Sagunto: Bruixola, Ibrahim and Chueca. Ruben (3), Inestrosa (2), Pocholo, Tarrasó (2), Spiljak (5), Pozzer (4), Alegre, Angel (2), Juande (2), Sorrentino (2), Pacheco (6), Piró and Sarió.

Referees: Muro and Mosquera. For Benidorm, Jimenez (2) was excluded; for Fertiberia, Spiljak, Pozzer, Angel, Juande and Pacheco were excluded.

Score every 5 minutes: 1–0, 6–1, 8–, 11–5, 12–7, 17–11 half-time. 20–13, 22–15, 25–17, 28–21, 29–23, 30–28 full-time

Palau L'Illa. 600 spectators.

Translation produced using artificial intelligence.