Ryger Stavanger vs Naerbo

Nærbø made their quality count from the opening exchanges. By the break they had established an 11-goal lead (19–8), effectively settling the contest before the second half began, according to TV 2's live match data.

The second half followed a similar pattern. Nærbø rotated their squad and spread the scoring across 12 different players — Sandven and Svensgård led the way with six goals each, while Thue, Nærland and Antoniak each chipped in with four. For Ryger, Sigurbergsson was the standout with six goals, supported by Gran and Johannessen on four apiece.

The final score of 38–24 reflected the two-division gap between the sides.

The match was effectively won in the first 30 minutes. Nærbø's 19–8 half-time lead meant Ryger faced a near-impossible mountain to climb in the second period. The hosts never got closer than 11 goals after the interval.

The division gap was always going to be the defining factor. Ryger compete in the 1. divisjon (Norway's second tier), while Nærbø play in the Eliteserien, and the difference in pace, physicality and finishing quality was evident from the first whistle.

• Sandven (Nærbø) and Svensgård (Nærbø) — both scored six goals and were the joint-top scorers on the night, causing constant problems for the Ryger defence from the back court.
• Sigurbergsson (Ryger Stavanger) — the home side's most dangerous attacker, scoring six of his team's 24 goals in a losing cause.
• Nærbø's collective depth — 12 different players got on the scoresheet for the visitors, underlining the squad strength that comes with top-tier resources.

The 38–24 scoreline tells a straightforward story. Nærbø's 19 first-half goals — nearly matching Ryger's full-match total of 24 — show where the contest was won. The 11-goal half-time margin (19–8) is the most telling stat of the night: it was a 14-goal gap by the final whistle, almost identical to the half-time differential carried through.

For Ryger, whose only previous NM Cup match this season was a 38–24 win over Stord in round 2 (a second-division side), the step up in class against Eliteserien opposition proved too steep.

Nærbø advance to round 4 of the NM Cup, their first official match of the 2026–27 season completed with a professional, no-nonsense performance. For Ryger, attention now turns to the 1. divisjon season, which begins in earnest in early September.

Ryger acknowledged their exit on Instagram, writing: "Vi er ute av cupen" — "We are out of the cup" — adding that the team have one-and-a-half weeks until the league season starts.

A routine win for Nærbø, who did exactly what an Eliteserien side should do against second-tier opposition: take control early, build a decisive lead, and manage the second half with minimal fuss. Ryger were competitive in patches but never looked likely to bridge the quality gap. The NM Cup served its purpose — it confirmed the league hierarchy.