ALBERT - The mission has been completed, it was party time in Albert. The team has advanced fort he playoffs in France after the 6-2 victory over Villeneuve d'Ascq. The last match turned out into an outstanding performance of the entire team: 1.416 of average with the best match for Cédric Melnytschenko: fifty points in 27 innings.
Thereby,, Albert finished second in its group after the leader and reigning champion CetSi Morangis. That team will play its last match against Saint-Maur on May 5, but the last encounter is not important for the final ranking.
With three wins and three draws, Albert remained unbeaten and recorded the best performance ever in its history: 1.268 average. For the first time, Retro Albert played with Xavier Le Roy as the fourth man this year and Dion Nelin was the joker in the team several times. The Dane will certainly be present in the playoffs.
Xavier Le Roy was the only one who lost his match in the final match. Steve Dorard beat him 50-44 in 51 innings. The other three players showed a great regularity: Cédric Melnytschenko defeated George Demos (who made a run of 11) 50-28 in 27, Kurt Ceulemans bested Frédéric Beghin (50-41 in 31) and Peter Ceulemans sealed the team victory by a win over Martin Ravestyn: 50-31 in 28.
CetSi Morangis will almost certainly finish first in this group and then plays in the semifinals against Laxou, which finished second in the other group. Andernos is the opponent for Albert.
