LFH Division 1, Women – Round 24
TOULON MÉTROPOLE VAR HANDBALL VS HANDBALL PLAN DE CUQUES - 07/05/ 2024 - 8PM
Nothing goes right...
After winning against the bottom team, Plan de Cuques faces the second-to-last team this time, Toulon, who once again stumbled in Doubs. With a 36-27 defeat, they returned home empty-handed. Perhaps disgusted by conceding so many easy goals due to a defense that was nowhere to be found, both Toulon goalkeepers have committed to new clubs for the next season. Florence Bonnet will join Besançon, while Ophélie Tonds will head to Saint Amand. A new chapter in their careers after a difficult season with the worst defense in the league. However, Toulon is still in the process of securing their place with a two-point lead over Stella Saint-Maur, the bottom team. Perhaps they could definitively secure their safety with a victory in this southern derby, as the two cities are less than 50 minutes apart.
Unfortunately for the Varois team, without any change in defensive strategy for months, Toulon continues to struggle. To the extent that there is no logic in their approach. They only endure. This allows the opposing team to dictate the game and find solutions everywhere, whether through duels, long shots, on the wings, or inside. But with just three matches left, it's unlikely to change. What's even more worrying is the current number of absences. They travel with only 11 players and very few rotations, with few young players from the training center making appearances. One wonders what's happening below that they aren't reinforcing the first team. It might be high time to change the personnel in place to revitalize this club, which is steadily declining.
With so many absences, Toulon will struggle against the pace of the Provençal game. They are likely to be outperformed in all areas and concede over 35 goals once again. On the other hand, this will allow Angelique Spincer to give playing time to her young talents. Left-handed Lalie Vernay is expected to showcase her potential, having previously been in the Metz training center.
Plan de Cuques should enjoy themselves and provide valuable experience to their young players for the future. They should win by a scoreline around 35-25. It's eagerly awaited for Toulon's nightmare season to end, but it will be time for reflection. Plan de Cuques' development based on stability and promising young players could serve as an example for them.
MÉRIGNAC HANDBALL VS LES NEPTUNES DE NANTES
08/05/2024 - 5PM
Illegible calendar
And there goes another match day, held two weeks early to allow Nantes to prepare for the EHF European League Final Four in Graz. They could bring home a title to reward a year of ups and downs before facing budget restrictions next season. That's all we wish for them. Despite securing third place, they don't have control to finish their season on the podium in the Butagaz Énergie League. Nonetheless, they did their job quite well in Mérignac, securing a clear and flawless victory of 37-21.
Their relentless pace, anchored by solid defense, allowed them to triumph 37-21 in Gironde. This match fell on May 1st, Labor Day in France. Perhaps Mérignac took the holiday a bit too literally and remained on vacation.
The Mérignac youth is progressing under the guidance of Christophe Chagnard. However, they still need to toughen up to manage the different phases of a match, especially their weak periods, which are often too prolonged. At the moment, they struggle to regain attacking momentum and solid defensive footing to turn the tide. As a result, they frequently suffer setbacks that directly sabotage their hopes or ambitions. When the match is often decided within 10 minutes of these weak periods, the rest of their performance is nonetheless promising. But motivation tends to wane when setbacks occur very early in the match, as was the case against the Neptunes.
This victory, as mentioned, allows Nantes to reclaim third place. However, Paris 92 could regain the lead this weekend. The Neptunes can only hope for a misstep from the Parisians before the end of the season.