GREAT Britain men went down to tournament favourites K-Sports 20-29 in their opening match of the Limburgse Handballdagen tournament in Holland.

Facing a team made up of many of the top players from Japanese and Korean leagues, the GB men battled well and were level at 19-19 mid-way through the second half, before their rivals changed formation and left GB playing catch-up.

A weakened GB team then lost 23-39 to Vos Investment Lions in the second match.

With several key players out injured, head coach Dragan Djukic took his chance to give several of the newer players in the squad chance to stake their claim for a place in the World Championship qualifiers in Finland next month.

?ith several of the key players out, it? been a good opportunity for some of the younger players to step up, and it? given us a chance to run the rule over them," explained Scot Bill Baillie, the GB assistant coach.