SOISSONS – The fifth round in the French team competition pits the teams of Soissons and Blois against each other this Friday evening. The two contenders for top spots will be at full strength. That includes matches between Jérémy Bury and Glenn Hofman and between Eddy Merckx and Sameh Sidhom. Another top-tier match is between Andernos and Saint Quentin, with Zanetti-Karakurt as the top match.
The French competition features 10 teams, which already met in the first four rounds. Soissons leads the field with 8 match points, ahead of Andernos with 7, Albert with 6, and Saint Quentin and Blois with 5 match points. Peter Ceulemans (Albert) and Eddy Merckx have the maximum wins out of four rounds. Ceulemans defeated Dick Jaspers and Jérémy Bury, among others, Eddy Merckx won his matches in 13, 20, 20, and 25 innings. Glenn Hofman only lost his match against Marco Zanetti, 40-25 in 9 innings, the best match in four rounds.
Jérémy Bury, who won two out of four matches for Soissons, leads the team against Blois this Friday and will face Glenn Hofman. Saint Quentin plays its away match against Andernos without Dick Jaspers. The Dutchman doesn’t play the long away matches in France. Berkay Karakurt will lead Saint Quentin.
Albert shows up with Peter Ceulemans and Jef Philipoom and is aiming for one of the top positions. This Friday, Colmar will face Spaniards Legazpi and Jimenez.
All matches are broadcast live.
The line-ups:
Soissons-Blois 1
Bury-Hofman
Merckx-Sidhom
Soumagne-Devogelaere
De Bruijn-Panaia
Andernos-St Quentin
Zanetti-Karakurt
Polychronopoulos-Loncelle
Barbeillon-Perrotin
Connesson-N. Duriez
Albert Colmar
Ceulemans-Legazpi
Philipoom-Jimenez
Melnytschenko-Haby
Roxo Courtot
Blois 2-Intermarché
Puigvert-Seleventas
Justice Mottet
Leculeur-Refasi
Miossec-Dubernet
Douarnenez-Courbevoie
Van Acker-Reverchon
Forton-Kunt
Le Deventec-Echeverry
Lelievre-Boudin
The standings after four rounds
- Soissons 8
- Andernos 7
- Albert 6
- Saint Quentin 5
- Blois 1 5
- Colmar 4
- Intermarché 3
- Blois 2 1
- Courbevoie 1
- Douarnenez 0