The last three editions of the Pyrenees Cup have all gone to Basque clubs, each time against ASMUR: Hasparren in 2019, Anglet B in 2021 and the Croisés de Bayonne in 2022. This Saturday evening, at Nouste Camp in Bizanos , the Cup will remain the property of the Basque Country, whatever happens. The final opposes the Genêts reserve (R2), winner of the edition in 2008, 2015 and 2022, and Mauléon (R3), unfortunate finalist in 2018. The point with the two coaches, Laurent Alvera for the Angloys, Pascal Baze for the Souletins.
How are you approaching this 100% Basque final?
Laurent Alvera. It’s like a cherry on the cake. We set ourselves the goal of reaching the last four of this Cup, and we are in the final. We have an exciting end to the season to play in the Cup and the Championship. I remember the progress of my young players throughout the season. We will have no feeling of superiority this Saturday evening. The key word is humility.
Pascal Baze. We want to approach it differently from that of 2018, lost against Pau Bourbaki. It seems to me that we prepared well for this meeting by going to win at Biscarrosse, the leader of our championship. We also have in mind the semi-final of the Coupe de Nouvelle-Aquitaine in a week, but I think my players are more focused on this Saturday evening. We raised the sauce at club level. We will have a lot of supporters at Nouste Camp.
What can make the difference?
THERE Managing emotions will be very important. We are not favorites with the youth of our team. The oldest is only 25 years old. I think it will be a very pleasant final to watch because we have, like Mauléon, a team focused on the game. They have good individuals and a well-oiled team. Everyone sees us as winners on paper but I fear this match. We have talented but young players.
P.B. We really stopped after the quarter-final of the Coupe de Nouvelle-Aquitaine. My players were done. This allowed us to get a few people back. And then, we went back to work for the Biscarrosse match. A final is very special. Managing emotions will be essential. We will try not to play the match beforehand in our heads. They will undoubtedly be a little fresher. We played almost ten more games than them this year.
“It will be a very pleasant final to watch because we have, like Mauléon, a team focused on the game”
Which team is the favorite?
THERE It’s 50-50, no nonsense. They have executives that we don’t have. We will have to manage emotions and the environment. But our progress has been constant this year. We were last in R2 in December. We can still play the climb to R1 next Sunday. And Mauléon would undoubtedly be at the top of his championship if they had not played all these cup matches.
P.B. They are the favorites, of course. The Genêts have been surfing on the water since the rise of the Première in N2. They have players who train with the N3 group all year round but we also played big Cup matches against R1s. We will have to raise our cursor even more.
Anglet B (R2) – Mauléon (R3)
Place Bizanos (Nouste Camp). Hourly This Saturday evening at 6 p.m. Arbitrator Mr. Jourda.
Anglet B Feltrin – Dassie, Thiam, Cojo, Lechêne, Canonge, Barji, M.Lapeyre, Marquet, Tanco, Sarr, Deryckx, Luiggi, Borderies.
The course T1: Anglet B – Hendaye (10-0), T2: Biarritz – Anglet B (1-2), T3: Anglet B – Bayonne B (0-0, 6tab5), 1/4: Scala – Anglet B (0- 1), 1/2: Anglet B – Portuguese de Pau (1-0).
Mauleon Auzolat – Orduna, Larroque, J. and S. Urruty, Etchegoyen, Labat, Oyhenart, Gosselin, Ladoues, Hourcade, Eppherre, Houga, Darrieux.
The course T1: Mourenx – Mauléon (0-0, 3-4 on tabs), T2: JAB Pau – Mauléon (1-4), T3: Mauléon – Billère (5-3), 1/4: Mauléon – Arin Luzien B ( 0-0, 5-4 on the tabs), 1/2: Mauléon – Lescar (1-0).
Other titles in play
The Nouste Camp in Bizanos will host other departmental finals this weekend. This Saturday, at the start of the afternoon (2 p.m.), the girls of Genêts d’Anglet and those of Aviron Bayonnais will compete in the second edition of the Crédit Agricole Women’s Cup. Advantage to the residents of R1 Angloyes who finished in the middle of the table with a balanced record (8 wins, 4 draws and 8 defeats). For a promoted person, that’s already very good. The Rowing girls finished 3rd in R2 behind the Girondins and Soyaux reserves, with the second attack in the group.
Among the boys, in U19, the Pyrenees final saw the Biarritz/Ciboure team clash, who finished 5th in the first phase of the championship and were then transferred to D2. At the same time, Lescar finished at the top of his group before being promoted to Excellence. Small advantage therefore for the Béarnais. The Entente still managed to eliminate FC Hameau, also returned to Excellence. Hope is therefore in order.
J.D.
