Russia secure fifth consecutive win to finish World Women's Handball Championships group stage in style

Russia made it five wins from five with a narrow victory over Romania ©Getty Images

Russia continued their impressive form at the Women’s World Handball Championships as they ensured they finished the group stage of the tournament with a 100 per cent record by edging Romania 30-27 at the Arena Nord in Frederikshavn.

The Russian side have been the pick of the teams at the event so far but were pushed all the way by a dogged Romanian outfit before they eventually secured their fifth consecutive win, thanks largely to Anna Vyakhireva’s six-goals.

Only a remarkable swing in goal difference would have denied Russia top spot in Group D and they will go on to face Germany, who thrashed the Democratic Republic of Congo 39-17 today, in the last 16.

In the other matches in the group, Puerto Rico claimed their first-ever World Championships victory, beating Kazakhstan 30-27.

Norway sealed second spot with a 29-26 success over Spain.

Defending champions Brazil won a thrilling encounter with France by a slender one-goal margin as they beat France 21-20 in the Group C table-topping decider at the Kolding-Hallen in Kolding.

They will be joined by South Korea in the next round after they overcame Argentina 27-22, ending the South American side’s feint hopes of qualification.

Brazil overcame France to clinch top spot in Group C ©Getty Images

The most thrilling finale of all four pools came in Group A as Hungary, bronze medallists in 2005, moved into pole position with a comfortable 31-21 victory against Japan at the Jyske Bank Boxen in Herning.

The only team who could prevent them finishing at the top of the group was Montenegro, who entertained the host country Denmark in the final match of the day.

In a topsy-turvy match-up, Montenegro just about had the better of their opponents, eventually claiming a tight 23-21 triumph to pip the Hungarians to top spot.

Serbia’s 43-21 drubbing of Tunisia handed the 2013 runners-up the crucial fourth spot in the group to prolong their participation at the event and they will go up against The Netherlands in the last 16.

The Dutch, like Brazil, concluded the group phase unbeaten as they proved too strong for Poland, who lost out in the bronze medal match at the 2013 World Championships to Denmark, clinching a commanding 31-20 victory at the Næstved Arena.

Angola squeezed into the last 16, beating China 32-29, in which Natália Bernardo found the net a remarkable 10 times.

The result for the Dutch handed them top spot in Pool B as Sweden failed to rack up the required winning margin, despite sweeping aside Cuba 49-24 as Nathalie Hagman's 14 goals proved to be in vein.

The tournament in Denmark is due to continue on Sunday (December 13) following a rest day tomorrow.