Viljandi HC completes confident road victory, defeating Granitas-Karys 33:27

November 29, 2025

Viljandi HC delivered a strong and consistent performance on Saturday evening, securing a 33:27 (16:13) victory over Granitas-Karys in the Baltic Handball League. The Estonian side controlled the key moments of the match, capitalizing on a dominant attacking display led by an exceptional performance from Ott Varik, who finished as the match’s top scorer with 10 goals.

First Half: Viljandi takes control after an early exchange

Granitas-Karys began the match with intensity, opening the scoring through Marius Kairys and briefly holding the lead at 4:3. However, Viljandi HC quickly settled and shifted momentum their way.
A series of goals from Johannes Pertelson, Hendrik Koks, and back-to-back strikes by Ott Varik turned the match around, giving the visitors a 5:7 advantage.

Granitas-Karys relied heavily on their seven-meter specialist Simas Butkus, who converted four penalties in the first half, keeping his team within striking distance. But Viljandi HC maintained control through efficient attacking phases and took a three-goal lead into halftime, 16:13.

Second Half: Viljandi HC extends the gap

The visitors intensified the tempo after the break, with Sten Maasalu and Varik repeatedly finding gaps in the Granitas-Karys defense. Despite notable individual efforts from Kairys, Butkus, and Gustas Rinkevičius, the home side struggled to overcome Viljandi’s disciplined structure and fast transitions.

A key moment came midway through the half when Granitas-Karys received a two-minute suspension (Žilinskas, 45’). Viljandi punished the numerical advantage immediately, extending their lead to 24:20 through Varik’s penalty.

Although Granitas-Karys fought back through late goals by Kairys, Būzius, and Zadarnauskas, Viljandi HC maintained a safe margin. A final strike by Varik in the 59th minute sealed the six-goal win.

Top Performers

Viljandi HC

• Ott Varik (#90) – 10 goals (3/3 from 7m), decisive throughout the match
• Sten Maasalu (#10) – 7 goals, key in maintaining second-half pressure
• Hendrik Koks (#9) – 5 goals, active on both ends despite suspensions

Granitas-Karys

• Simas Butkus (#3) – 7 goals (5 from penalties), essential in keeping team competitive
• Marius Kairys (#14) – 6 goals, strong finishing from the left side
• Gustas Būzius & Gustas Rinkevičius – energetic late-game contributions