Swiss Cottage-based Highbury Korfball Club maintained their unbeaten record, as well as their hopes of promotion, with a convincing 17-10 victory over fierce rivals Supernova on Sunday.

Coach Andrew Speck made just one enforced change, bringing himself into the team in place of the injured Tiago Almeida.

Matches between Highbury and Supernova are always highly-competitive encounters and this game was no different - but hat-ticks from Speck, Marrit Nijmeijer, Matt Dodds and Portuguese sisters Ana and Sara Rocha secured what turned out to be a comfortable win.

Highbury were first on the scoresheet, with Niccola Hyslop scoring from under the basket, but Supernova scored three times without reply to give them an early 3-1 lead.

Highbury hit back through a penalty from Speck, but Neil Kempston extended Supernova’s lead before Nijmeijer finished a great team move to cut Supernova’s lead to one point at 4-3.

The next exchanges were vital and Tom Drew restored Supernova’s two-goal advantage before Highbury’s class took over. Speck scored from under the basket before Ana Rocha drew the sides level at 5-5.

A period of 10 minutes passed without a goal, but it was to be Highbury who broke the deadlock with a long shot from Sara Rocha – and, having got the lead, she and her team-mates did not look back, scoring a further four goals without reply from Nijmeijer, Dodds, Speck and Moses Hutchinson-Pascal.

Supernova briefly gave themselves hope with a two goals, but a further three strikes from Ana Rocha, two from Sara Rocha, and two from Dodds left Highbury seven goals ahead at the final whistle.

Speck said: “It was a must-win game for Highbury and, after trailing Supernova after the first few minutes, the team rallied and put in a true Highbury performance to take back the lead and extend it throughout the game.

“In this physical match we weren’t afraid to soak up the pressure and then put the goals on the board when it really counted. Once again our Portuguese twins, Ana and Sara, hit their mark - but the support from every player on the pitch couldn’t be faulted and that allowed us to post an impressive win in what is normally a tight and tense battle.”

Highbury are next in action away to Nomads 2 on Sunday November 10.