SOISSONS – The BC Soissons team tops the standings after two rounds in the French team competition. The quartet, led by Bury and Merckx, has earned the maximum four points after a 6-2 second-round victory over Albert. Andernos, Blois 1, and Saint Quentin are the chasing teams with three match points, while Colmar and Albert are in the middle of the pack with two points.
The best individual winners in the second round were three Dutch players: Dick Jaspers and Jean Paul de Bruijn with 40 in 17, and Glenn Hofman with 40 in 18.
Jean Paul de Bruijn was the fourth man on the Soissons team, beating Thierry Roxo 40-30 in 17. Dick Jaspers, captain of Saint Quentin, defeated Steven van Acker 40-34 in 17. Glenn Hofman was the better of Fabrice Puigvert 40-22 in 18.
BC Soissons retained its top position in the match against Albert with victories from Eddy Merckx, Pierre Soumagne and Jean Paul de Bruijn. On center court, only Peter Ceulemans defeated Jérémy Bury, 40-37 in 25 innings.
BC Andernos maintained its undefeated status with a 6-2 victory over Courbevoie, including a resounding victory for Roland Forthomme over Jean Reverchon, 40-14 in 24 innings, and wins from Barbeillon and Connesson in 25 and 41 innings, respectively. Nick Polychronopoulos was the only loser on the winning team, beaten by Vahit Kunt, 40-31 in 38 innings.
The Blois 1 team defeated the Blois 2 squad, thanks in part to Glenn Hofman's excellent match against Puigvert in 18 innings. Sameh Sidhom defeated Jacky Justice 40-20 in 20.
Saint Quentin dispatched Douarnenez 6-2, with Jaspers in the lead, Johan Loncelle (against Forton in 51 innings!) and Kevin Perrotin as the other three winners. Colmar defeated Intermarché 6-2. Two Spaniards were successful: Ruben Legazpi was the better of Dimitrios Seleventas 40-30 in 27 matches, and Sergio Jimenez defeated Frédéric Mottet 40-29 in 32 innings.
The standings after two rounds:
- Soissons 4 (1.515, run 15)
- Andernos 3 (1.232)
- Blois 1, 3 (1.227, run 14)
- Saint Quentin 3 (1.130)
- Colmar 2 (1.295)
- Albert 2 (1.440)
- Intermarché 1 (1.097)
- Blois 2, 1 (0.934)
- Courbevoie 1 (0.858)
- Douarnenez 0 (1.004, run 15).
Next round on November 28:
Douarnenez-Andernos
Courbevoie-St Quentin
Blois 2-Albert
Colmar-Blois 1
Intermarché-Soissons.
Jean Paul de Bruijn, an excellent victory for his team