Dragūnas Klaipėda power past HC Cocks 42–29 to settle the score

February 21, 2026

HC Dragūnas Klaipėda delivered a statement win in the Baltic Handball League on Saturday, 21 February 2026 (15:30), defeating HC Cocks 42–29 on home court. Dragūnas set the tone early and carried a 24–17 advantage into halftime before turning the match into a rout with a relentless second-half tempo.

The result also served as payback after the teams’ previous meeting, when HC Cocks won 34–29 (13 December 2025).

Key moments

• Fast start, then a decisive first-half surge: The opening minutes were even (2–2 after just over two minutes, 6–6 at 9:19), but Dragūnas hit a decisive gear soon after—stretching the lead to 11–7 and forcing a Cocks timeout at 12:57.
• Halftime control: Dragūnas kept scoring in waves and went to the break up 24–17, with multiple scorers involved and constant pressure on the Cocks back line.
• Second-half separation: Dragūnas continued to build (26–17, then 30–19), and after the mid-half exchanges they pushed the margin into double digits for good, moving to 37–24 late before closing strongly to 42–29.

Top performers

HC Dragūnas Klaipėda

• Paulius Čėsna: 8 goals (8/9 shooting) – led the attack with outstanding efficiency.
• Emmanuel Gustavo Ferreira Paiva: 5 goals, plus key early strikes that helped set the tempo.
• Lukas Juškėnas: 5 goals (+ 1/1 from 7m) – combined volume with important conversions.
• Support scoring: Deividas Virbauskas 5, Tomas Draksas 4, Daniil Plakhotin 4, Matas Kairys 4, Filip Hrnjak 3.

HC Cocks

• Santeri Vainionpää: 7 goals (7/7) – flawless finishing.
• Niko Hållman: 6 goals (+ 1/1 from 7m) – carried much of the offensive load.
• Teemu Tamminen: 4 goals, Calle Almander: 4 goals (+ 1/1 from 7m).

Match summary

Dragūnas combined high pace with clinical finishing across the lineup, repeatedly punishing turnovers and missed chances to generate quick goals. After trading early blows, the hosts’ mid-first-half run created a cushion they never surrendered, and the second half became a showcase of depth and rhythm as Dragūnas continued to score consistently to the final whistle.

Final score: HC Dragūnas Klaipėda 42–29 HC Cocks
Halftime: 24–17