Grand Poitiers mates Bruges-Lormont, the leader

Greater Poitiers: 28
Bruges-Lormont: 23

The clapping at the end of the match and the beautiful communion with the nearly 1,500 supporters present this Saturday, November 23 in the Jean-Pierre Garnier hall were equal to the performance of Grand Poitiers Handball.

After two draws against the last two, Grand Libournais (30-30) and Mainvilliers-Chartres (32-32), interrupted by a defeat in Ivry (27-23), Léo Godineau's partners chose their moment very well to reconnect with success, defeating Bruges-Lormont, the leader having only lost once this season so far and remaining on four victories.

“Aggression was the watchword”

Before the meeting, Romain Guillard, the Poitevin coach, had asked for more defensive aggressiveness. It is clear that the message was received five out of five. “I would like to be heard more often”smiled the technician afterwards. “Aggression has been the watchword in recent days. All week, I sent the players to coal. »

And his troops sent Bruges-Lormont to the ground. Like Nantes (32-35), Sud-Mayenne (22-28) or Rezé (39-32) before. So many serious customers. “It’s not trivial to beat the leader. We like to play big. But, if we want to get to the top, we must also be effective against less upscale adversaries. This is what we have been lacking lately. »

Except for the first ten minutes, “where we concede eight goals, it’s far too many”Grand Poitiers delivered a very solid performance. In defense, first, which allowed him to reach the break at the height of his opponent (14-14, 30^e). But not only that.

The standoff, of rare intensity, continued after the break. If Hérault received a red following a foul on Toussay (39^e), then the top Girondin scorer (6 goals), the latter was taken aback by the boiling public of Saint-Eloi, making him leave his match while the debates were still undecided (21-21, 45^e).

Grand Poitiers then accelerated. Despite the monstrous game of Guérinot, the best goalkeeper of the group, in the Bordeaux cage (13 saves), opposite, Tillet was not to be outdone (11 saves). And, in attack Ducoat (7 goals) and Bourgeuil (6 goals) gave it their all to inflict a 5-0 on their hosts (25-21, 51^e). All in a Jean-Pierre-Garnier room that has become volcanic. “We love playing here. We would like to do it much more regularly. This room carries us, gives us strength”underlined Romain Guillard.

Led, in particular by a Roumier of the great evenings (5 goals), Grand Poitiers signed its fifth success of the season and sent a serious message to the competition.

The sheet

Half time: 14-14.
Spectators: 1.500 environ.
Referees: MM. Copez et Quesney.
Greater Poitiers: Tillet (11 saves); Roumier (5), Guignier (5), Bourgeuil (6), Hérault (2), Fontes (1), Ducoat (7).
Bruges-Lormont : Guérinot (13 stops), Amany (5 stops) ; C. Harribey (5), Toussay (6), Furlan (2), Moga-Ardin (1), Joseph (1), Inocencio (2), N. Harribey (6).
Exclusions : in Grand Poitiers, Bourgeuil (5^e59^e)^{Godineau (17e), Hérault (33e) ; to Bruges-Lormont, Teixeira (4e38e), Harribey (40e50e)Castaing (47e58e).
Expulsions : in Grand Poitiers, Hérault (39e) ; in Bruges-Lormont, Furlan (56e).}