LAXOU/ANDERNOS - The leader in Group B of the French team competition, Andernos, played a home match against Gravelines and won 8-0, despite a strong performance by Martin Spoormans, close to a win over Roland Forthomme. The other match in this flight, between Laxou and Rouen, ended in a 6-2 victory for Torbjörn Blomdahl and Martin Horn's team. Dick Jaspers won the top match against Blomdahl.
and Dick Jaspers was won by the Dutchman.
The Bursa World Cup winner of last week demonstrated his current form again in this match, although he only came up to speed at the end. Jaspers led 26-11 after thirteen innings and runs of 8 and 6. The Swede then managed to catch up with the highest day run of 13 in the 14th, bringing him bach to 27-24. Jaspers replied with 10 and 6, came to 46 and then finished the match with 4: 50-37 in 23.
Marc Boingnères took the first match points for Andernos: he beat Gilles Stopin before the break by a big margin: 50-27 in 37. Ronnie Daniels was only one point down at the finish against Jérôme Barbeillon.
Martin Spoormans had a blistering start against his countryman Roland Forthomme and led 38-13 in 13 innings!! The number nine of the world seemed in a hopeless situation, but recovered great with 37 points in his last thirteen innings and a final run of eleven. Spoormans scored only nine times during Forthomme's 13 crazy innings. The final score: 50-47 in 26, 1.923/ 1.808 average. Francis Connesson (Andernos) beat Frédérick Roelants 50-32 in 33.
The Laxou team took revenge for the 6-2 loss in the away match, two weeks ago. Matthew Franck took the first win against Vincent Facquet 50-37 in 37. Pierre Soumagne was still behind at 47-46 in his match against Michael Devogelaere Soumagne, but had the final shot.
Martin Horn wasn't in his good form during the away match against Javier Palazón and now showed his real face. The German got rid of his setback in the last weeks: he was leading 25-17 in 16 and took the win by runs of eight and eleven in the 18th and 22nd inning: 50-36 24.
The last two rounds will be decicive for Laxou and Rouen fort he qualification. Andernos is the number one.
The Rouen and Laxou leaders Dick Jaspers, Torbjörn Blomdahl, Javier Palazón and Martin Horn
Today, Friday, CetSi Morangis and Villeneuve d'Ascq meet in Group A. That match will be broadcast by Kozoom.