Between two teams who needed to take points after a mediocre start to the season, Chaumont VB 52 Haute-Marne finally found the resources to dominate Tours in four sets (3-1), Friday October 18: a precious victory.
In this “classic” of the championship, Chaumont VB 52 Haute-Marne like Tours had to confirm their revival glimpsed on the last day, in Cannes for the first (1-3) and against Plessis-Robinson (3-0) for the second. If, in the game, the two teams demonstrated that they had now found the way forward for the rest of the season, the Chaumontaise victory (3-1), in a bare but enthusiastic Palestra, necessarily offers more visibility and of trust to the locals.
The Cévebistes thus quickly enter their match and, from the outset, sow trouble among the opponent (4-0). Time for the Tourangeaux to gain some bearings and the duel is balanced, with numerous short exchanges, the attacks often taking over the defenses, with however a few successful counters, but few “rallies”. The CVB 52 thus retained its advantage for a while (14-11), but remained penalized by a quality of service which was not up to par. Which is not the case in Tours, which is picking up (14-14). Lacking realism on this precise gesture, the Chaumontais are forced to find other solutions to stay in the race. The mischief of Mathis Henno, the vision of Joseph Worsley and the presence of Shane Holdaway offer a valuable “break” in the “money time” (23-21). The affair is concluded with a direct error from Zeljko Coric: 25-23 in 29′.
A push and it starts again
Once again, CVB 52 quickly took the lead on the scoreboard at the start of the second set (4-2). But this time, the Haut-Marnais can finally rely on efficient services. The show improves in quality and the two teams set up their game, but the visitor’s realism on the counter-attack allows Tours to come back to the score (9-9). The few minutes of madness which will come to liven up the Cévebiste camp at “15-15” then completely change the situation of this round (18-15). The collective spirit of the locals takes over and it is together that the Chaumontais fly towards victory in this second act: 25-20 in 27′. At the start of the third set, the Cévebistes no longer had the same success: three “off-line” attacks and some reception difficulties complicated the local ambitions (2-6, then 4-10). It is with the very young “dad”, Niko Suihkonen, that Silvano Prandi decides to continue the evening, in place of a less efficient Jacob Pasteur. The effects are immediate, with a CVB 52 which readjusts the target, but struggles to catch up. Opposite, the entry into play of the Hungarian Roland Gergye also did a lot of good for the visitors. The gap narrows (11-13), then grows again for Tours (11-14) which manages the situation perfectly. The “rallies” are for visitors who find hope: 19-25 in 29′.
The parenthesis of the third round closed, the Haut-Marnais begin the next with much more aggressiveness and success (10-7). But the people of Tourange have something to answer for. The locals’ break ahead remains fragile (11-9, then 17-17). The Chaumontais must never relax their efforts. Each point becomes a battle and when Niko Suihkonen hits an “ace” (21-19) and Joseph Worsley imitates him a few minutes later (24-21), nothing can stop the CVB 52: 25-22 in 32 ′.
Three points which copiously fill the cevébist basket, just before traveling to Montpellier for a new duel of titans. Tours, exempt in the middle of the week, must now prepare for the derby against Earvin Ngapeth’s Poitiers.
Laurent Génin
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