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EHL-bound clubs Düsseldorfer HC and Harvestehuder THC landed the German indoor championship titles following a breathtaking finals day, crowning a super winter season.

Düsseldorf were strong 4-1 winners over Club an der Alster in the women’s final to retain the crown.

Sara Strauss set the ball rolling in the 18th minute with an artful flick from a corner, netting in the final for a second year running. Hanna Gablać, though, made it level from a tight angle three minutes later.

But DHC raced away in the second half with Selin Oruz’s slipping past Mali Wichmann for 2-1. Oruz then set up Annika Sprink to put daylight between the teams – two goals in as many minutes.

And the match was decided when Elisa Gräve countered to score into an empty goal. 

For HTHC, it was a fifth men’s title as they won the trophy for the first time since 2015. They got the best of Hamburg-city rivals Club an der Alster 3-2.

Niklas Reuter netted from a fifth-minute corner but Alster’s Nik Kerner levelled before end of the first quarter at 1-1 and it stayed that way through the second and third quarters.

That ratcheted up the tension for a cracking final quarter. Michael Körper put HTHC back in front from close range and they were 3-1 up courtesy of Kilian Pöhling’s backhand shot; Alster pulled one back via Dieter Linnekogel but Harvestehuder THC had the title back after an eight-year wait.