SAINT QUENTIN/ANDERNOS - In the French team competition three cushion, three teams came out of the first round with victories. The teams from Saint-Quentin, Soissons and Albert went to maximum wins. The two promoted teams played a draw against each other with an average just under 1,300. The highest score went to Saint-Quentin in Group A, that beat Douarnenez Prevalrisk 8-0 (1,194/0,917) at home.
The first day of competition set the tone! The level of the national championship has risen undeniably, especially thanks to the contribution of 4 foreign players from Blois and Colmar, as well as Frédéric Caudron, who replaced Eddy Merckx this week. The two clubs from Andernos missed the start, Albert did very well and made its mark with the best overall result of the eight teams. Saint-Quentin made a clean sweep and Soissons remains the favorite for the finals.
Dick Jaspers and Johan Loncelle completed the maximum score for Saint-Quentin. The Dutchman and Belgian faced Steven Van Acker and Raymund Swertz in the second session (after 4-0 lead). After a 13-5 lead in nine innings and then 24-14 in 15, the Dutch world number one scored 26 points in the next eight innings, including a 9 and a 10, beating his Belgian opponent Van Acker 40-33 in 22 innings. Loncelle led against Swertz 25-11 in 15 before finishing 40-33 in 34. Consequently, a good start to the season for newcomer leading Dick Jaspers: 1.818.
In the 1st session of this match, Nathan and Tangui Duriez defeated Grégory Le Deventec and Vincent Lelièvre, who both led their entire match. Nathan Duriez scored 40 runs in 30, leaving his opponent on 28 runs, while Tangui used 48 innings to beat his opponent (40-27).
In the same Group A, reigning French champion Soissons went for the full win against Intermarché 6-2 (1,387/0,891). Many fans were looking forward to the return of Frédéric Caudron. The three-time world champion played an excellent match, which he finished in 40 minutes with an average over 3,000, the best of the four matches on this first day of competition. Caudron played against Frédéric Mottet and scored in 7 out of 13 innings, including two consecutive series of 8, one of 10 and one of 11. A magnificent match! Frédéric Mottet waited in the starting blocks and scored 9 points!
At the other table, Mikaël Devogelaere won from Marc Boingnères 40-34 in 28. Soissons led 4-0 at half-time. In the 2nd session, Nikos Polychronopoulos took on Jérémy Bury and Francis Connesson took on Pierre Soumagne. French number one Bury brutally defeated the Greek by a score 40-16 in 23 (1,739/0,695). He thus gave the visitors the final victory. At the other table, Connesson and Soumagne played an unusual match, with the Andernos veteran saving his team's honor with a score 40-34 in 47 innings.
In Group B, Albert made a flying start beating Andernos 6-2 (1,410/1,150) in the top division for the first time in 15 years. Jef Philipoom quickly outplayed Barry Van Beers (substitute for the ill Marco Zanetti), scoring 40-30 in 32. Thierry Roxo had a very good game against Léo Dubernet, 40-20 in 26. The Albertins were one point from victory at the break.
In the 2nd session, Roland Forthomme kept hope alive for the home team with a great start against Peter Ceulemans: 16-0 in 5 innings and then 30-12 in 12. In ` 22 innings, the Belgian from the Bassin scored the only victory for the Girondins: 40-21! In the last game, Cédric Melnytschenko took on Jerome Barbeillon. At the 14th inning, the two men were tied 19-18, but in the 18th, Melnytschenko led 30-18. On the next restart in the 20th inning, Barbeillon scored 7 to come back to within five points of his opponent. The Albert player immediately replied with 10 to seal the score in his favor, 40-25 in 20.
Finally, in Colmar, it was a meeting between two teams that had been promoted to the top league and had brought in reinforcements in the mid-season. In the order of player positions, Glenn Hofman (Blois) beat his Holland teammate, Ruben Legazpi, 40-28 in 22. Hofman finished 3-7-3-6 as the two players were neck-to-neck just after the break. Sergio Jimenez (Colmar) restored the balance by beating Sameh Sidhom, making his debut in the French championship, 40-25 in 22 innings.
In the games between Nrs 3 and 4, Jean Haby (Colmar) distinguished himself by beating Adrien Tachoire 40-34 in 35 and Maxime Panaia (for Blois) beat Jérôme Riotto 40-35 in 31. Colmar's average was 1.300, Blois Doozy's 1.263!
Next matches on 14 and 15 November.
The team Albert, first win over Andernos
The Saint Quentin team launched the competition with a maximum 8-0 win
The Blois team made its debut with a strong line-up