Kano Pillars and Safety Babes both extended their leads at the top of the men and women’s league tables respectively after the close of action on Day One of the second phase of the Prudent Energy Handball Premier League which kicked off in Lagos on Saturday.

Playing on the indoor courts of the Rowe Park Sports Centre, Yaba, Pillars proved too good for COAS Shooters who came up short against the league leaders to lose 25-20.

In other matches decided in the men’s category on Saturday, De Defenders scored a 27-20 win over Kada Stars while Lagos Seasiders rode the wave of support from the home crowd to see off Prison Key Boys 36-25.

Defending champions Niger United defeated Plateau Vipers 26-21 while Sokoto Rima were awarded a 10-0 scoreline against Bornu Spiders who were walked over after they failed to show up. It was a similar outcome in the match between Safety Shooters and Owena Kings with the win and a 10-0 scoreline awarded to Safety Shooters following Kings’ no show.

In the women’s category, defending champions Plateau Peacock beat Defender Babes 28-23 to maintain second position on the log and keep pace with league leaders Safety Babes who were awarded a 10-0 victory after opponents Abia Valliants failed to honour the fixture.

In other matches, Imo Grasshoppers were impressive in securing a 33-25 win against Kada Queens while Edo Dynamos were even more emphatic in their destruction of Desert Queens with a 33-16 victory.

Continuing the trend of walkovers witnessed on Day One of the league, Seasider Babes were gifted a 10-0 victory over Owena Queens who failed to show up and in the day’s last piece of action, Safety Babes lost 27-36 to Ghana Police in what essentially was an exhibition game with no bearing on the league table.