“The return of former international Philippe Tuitoga to the block was decisive, he turned the game around. » Grégory Alleix, the Pirates coach, found the person responsible for the surprising defeat (2-3) against Cambrai on Saturday. This is not the only explanation. Timid in the first set despite the good performances of the recruits Paulin, Faustino and Bernard, the Royannais, their heads and bodies perhaps still in the locker room, lost for the first time (20-25).
Pushed by a still noisy audience, Jean Oriol’s teammates went into overdrive and scattered their opponent with a 25-13 to great effect. We thought the Pirates were off to a good start. The third set will be hung. Severely beaten at home the previous week, the Cambrésiens gave the Maritimes a hard time. Their block, in particular, annihilated the local attacks even if the last word remained with the Saintongeais who won at the wire (25-23).
The following set – which would last 39 minutes (!) – provided a lot of emotion to the Cordouan audience. Hanging but still in front, the Royannais finished strong and benefited from four match points (24-20). These four opportunities were wasted by the overexcited Northerners (24-24). In turn, Cambrai benefited from four set points. The fifth will be the good one in a stunned room (27-29).
The head of bad days
“We must never lose that fourth set and then we don’t make the wise choices. Cambrai was more regular and gained confidence,” lamented Grégory Alleix. Philippe Tuitoga, without being spectacular, was able to decipher and disrupt the RAVB attacks. The fifth set will also be extremely competitive. Once again, Royan will be very close to victory (13-12) but Cambrai will achieve a good finish to win 15-13.
“I think Cambrai showed more character than us”
“I think Cambrai showed more character than us,” said Timoté Paulin, the pirates’ new ferryman. Disappointed but not dejected, Grégory Alleix felt that “it came down to nothing at all. We are only at the start of the season, we knew that the championship would be dense. This defeat will make us progress, learn…” The players looked like they were having bad days after their first setback, especially at home. “Technically, we have to do better. We wanted to do better for our home premiere. I am very disappointed,” concluded Timoté Paulion. The next two meetings, in Fréjus then Ajaccio, promise to be delicate.
Royan 2 – Cambrai 3
Lieu Royan (Espace Cordouan) Spectators 872 Referees 2000 Paillat and Sawrei Sets 20-25 and 26′, 25-13 and 25′, 25-23 and 31′, 27-29 and 39′, 13-15 and 22′
ROYAN 46% winning attacks, 17 blocks, 4 aces. The team. Guelle, Oriol (10, captain), Boyomo (10), Abdelhedi (23), Bernard (13) Paulin (5), Faustino (17), Pasquier, Chaillou, Chaussende, Vieux. Lallemand.
CAMBRAI 43% winning attacks, 14 blocks and 6 aces. The team. Alzueta (8), Lalisse (13), Lengrand, Velazquez, Pranko (3), Rulkin, Parkhonenko (2), Tuitoga (5), Pépin (17), Malandain, Smidl (20), Lima (3)
