SOISSONS - The French team finals were decided in a thriller between the teams of Andernos and Soissons this Sunday. The match itself ended in 4-4, the final averages decided the title. Andernos took the title from Soissons by a small difference in average: 1.740 against 1.679. Marco Zanetti and Jérôme Barbeillon were the winners for Andernos in the final, Eddy Merckx and Pierre Soumagne won for Soissons. Andernos also won the battle with Saint Quentin in the semi-final on average, also after a 4-4 tie in the regular matches. With the smallest possible difference (1 carom), Andernos was victorious: 1.626 against 1.614. Soissons, playing a home match as the reigning champions, qualified for the grand final by winning 6-2 over Blois Doozy. In the small final, Saint Quentin won 8-0 over Blois.
The star player this weekend was actually Dick Jaspers. The Dutch world number one gave away two fabulous exhibitions in his matches. In the semi-final, Jaspers was winner against Marco Zanetti with 40-30 in 10 innings (4,000 average). In the minor final, Jaspers was the better one against Tolgahan Kiraz with 40-9 in 11 (3.636 average).
The French team championship went between the four teams that had placed as numbers 1 and 2 in the regular competition in the two groups. Andernos, with Bernard Baudoin as team coach, grabbed the title with Marco Zanetti, Roland Forthomme, Gwendal Maréchal and Jérôme Barbeillon.
The Andernos team faced Saint Quentin in the semi-finals, which played with a phenomenal Dick Jaspers as its frontrunner. The Dutchman beat Marco Zanetti, Nathan Duriez won vs Jérôme Barbeillon. For Andernos, Roland Forthomme won vs another Belgian, Johan Loncelle. Gwendal Maréchal won vs Kevin Perrotin with the biggest difference in caroms: 40-23 in 23.
Defending champion Soissons was the better in the semi-final against Blois Doozy 6-2 with Eddy Merckx the best winner against Sameh Sidhom: 40-29 in 21. In the French encounter, Pierre Soumagne won from Adrien Tachoir with the smallest possible difference (40-39 in 22) and the match between Mikaël Devogelaere and Maxime Panaia was also exciting until the end: 40-38 in 35. Only Jérémy Bury lost for Soissons to Tolgahan Kiraz 27-40 in 23. Soissons had a team average 1.455, Blois 1.445.
The Andernos winners with the teamcaptain Bernard Baudoin (left)
Dick Jaspers, playing for St Quentin, the star in the finals with 40 in 10 and 40 in 11
Final results:
Andernos-Soissons 4-4
Andernos 1.740/Soissons 1.679
Zanetti-Bury 40-26 in 22
Forthomme-Merckx 16-40 in 16
Maréchal-Soumagne 31-40 in 28
Barbeillon-Devogelaere 40-30 in 15.
Minor final:
St Quentin-Blois 8-0
Jaspers-Kiaz 40-9 in 11 (3,636)
Loncelle wins over Sidhom
Perrotin beats Tachoire
Duriez beats Panaia
The team line-ups:
Andernos (champion): Marco Zanetti - Roland Forthomme - Gwendal Maréchal - Jérôme Barbeillon
Soissons: Jérémy Bury - Eddy Merckx - Pierre Soumagne - Mikael Devogelaere
Blois Doozy: Sameh Sidhom - Tolgahan Kiraz - Adrien Tachoire - Maxime Panaia
Saint-Quentin: Dick Jaspers - Johan Loncelle - Kevin Perrotin - Nathan Duriez.