Euro handball obliges, the French Men’s Championship was at a standstill this weekend. On the other hand, all the other team sports were on deck and the Ile-de-France clubs distinguished themselves very well. From Paris to Massy via Le Plessis-Robinson and Nanterre, an overview of the different disciplines.
Basketball: the Ile-de-France derby for Paris Basketball
An NBA champion at Halle Carpentier. Boulogne-Levallois“>Axel Toupane, crowned with the Milwaukee Bucks last spring despite limited playing time, made his debut this Saturday in the jersey of Paris Basketball. And what better than a derby to launch your Ile-de-France adventure. The tricolor winger shone (16 points at 6/10 in the shoot) and the Parisians won 83-78 against their neighbor Boulogne-Levallois. “We are super happy, we had a big collective match against the first in the championship, frankly what more could you ask for? “said Toupane after the game. Especially since the Parisians, 14th in Betclic Elite, did not start as favorites against the almost untouchable leader of this championship. Next weekend, Boulogne-Levallois will try to resume their march forward at home against Strasbourg while Paris will host Nanterre for a new derby.
Nanterre brings down Monaco
Nanterriens who offered themselves the scalp of Monaco this Saturday (87-83). Led by an excellent Chris Horton (23 points, 10 rebounds) and well helped by the altruism of Nick Johnson (15 points, 11 assists), the Ile-de-France team dominated its Monegasque counterpart deprived of many executives. A success that allows the Hauts-de-Seine club to rank 8th in the standings and get back into the race for the playoffs. “We work hard, we know what we have to do, the work simply pays! It’s nice, there are no specific explanations. (…) It’s motivating to play against a team like that, there is no fear, of course they are great players, but it’s still basketball, ”analyzed Nanterre winger Lucas Dussoulier for the site of the club.
Volleyball: quiet success of Plessis-Robinson
Direction Poitiers now where the Hauts-de-Seine club, volleyball this time, made their Viennese opponent bite the dust in Ligue A. A clear success in three sets (17-25/23-25/23 -25) which allows Plessis-Robinson to take 9th place just one point behind Tourcoing, 8th. Just like in BetClic Elite, a playoff system exists between the first eight in the championship while the teams ranked between 9th and 14th place play a playdown where the objective is to avoid the descent. It is therefore an excellent operation carried out by the promoted Robinson who perfectly digested his defeat in the derby against Paris last weekend.
Rugby: Massy refuels against Albi, Suresnes bites the dust
In National, it is the Essonne club that prances in the lead. A position strengthened this Saturday thanks to a wide victory 27 to 7 against Albi at the Jules-Ladoumègue stadium. Three tries signed Killian Marion, Alex Preira and Yohann Gbizie allow Massy to chain a 13th consecutive success and to count 12 points ahead of their runner-up Soyaux Angoulême.
700 km away, the weekend was much less festive for Suresnes, beaten sharply in Dax (49-21). The Ile-de-France conceded five converted tries as well as three penalties. A very bad operation for the Alto-Séquanais against a lower ranked opponent. 6th in National, Suresnes sees his opponent of the day (9th) come back to four points and remains under threat from Nice (7th) who have one game less. As in the Top 14, the first two are directly qualified for the semi-finals while the teams ranked between 3rd and 6th place play a round of playoffs.
Mixed fortunes in the European Cup
Still in the world of ovality, the two Ile-de-France representatives in the European Cup experienced two evenings at the antipodes of each other. Racing 92 confirmed its good disposition on the European scene by winning 25-10 in Swansea against the Ospreys (Wales). A third victory in as many matches which propels the Racingmen into the round of 16 of the Champions Cup.
“They were very aggressive in the first half, we had trouble winning our duels so it was difficult to put our game in place. Little by little in the second period, we found solutions (…) The goal now is to stay on victories, win all the matches. We lacked confidence, it’s getting better and better, we’re on the right track, “said Gaël Fickou quoted by The Team.
The right path, Stade Français did not really take it this Saturday evening on the lawn of Bristol. Beaten 28-17, the Parisians conceded a second defeat in as many games in the competition and almost say goodbye to Europe. “There is inevitably a little regret after this match because we put a good state of mind. Afterwards, we were fooled on first-hand launches and especially on this 9 (Harry Randall’s editor’s note) which hurt us a lot. We have to keep this state of mind for the next matches, ”analyzed the opening half Léo Barré, author of a test against the English.
