Pictured: the Boucan’s field of the La Rochelle Boucaniers.
The play-downs serve two purposes: to rank the teams not qualified for the playoffs and to determine which of the bottom teams will stay and which of the top teams from the lower divisions will « move up ».
In D1, the Couton Cougars defeated the Fleury Cometz in three games: 4-6, 0-15, 4-2.
Jimenez of the Montigny Cougars.
The Rochellais of Ossandon outclassed Stade Toulousain of De La Rosa in three games as well: 3-10, 1-8, 9-0 (one match not played).
The PUC of Rodriguez also won three times against the Cavigals of Montas. A first weekend without playing: 0-9, 0-9, and 3-6.
The Arvernes of Benson, 5th in the B standings, split with the Cavigals, 6th. 12-9 and 3-9. The return leg didn’t happen (9-0, 9-0), so the Arvernes take it.
The 5th and 6th places in Division 1 will be decided in a best-of-three between the Boucaniers and the Cougars. The first clash saw both clubs split in La Rochelle: 1-7 and 6-5. On October 23rd and 24th in Montigny, the return leg will decide the final standings. The play-down schedule continues with a Cometz-Stade Toulousain match.
In D2, it’s the Hawks of La Guerche of Antony Piquet (3W-9L) who are in the worst shape, along with the Paris Patriots of Ducreux, who have struggled all season (1W-11L).
The Hawks, 2019 D3 champions in Montigny.
These two clubs must now defend their shaky Division 2 spots against the reserves of the Boucaniers (2021 D3 champions), who swept the Fenay Cyclones, the Limoges Sparks, and the Anglet Gambas in D3, and against the same Gambas, who eliminated the Renards de La Vallée, the Ermont Expos, and the Pau Pumas. The fate of these teams will be decided in a best-of-three between the top D3 teams and the D2 cellar dwellers.
Your proooooonostics!
Vincent Picard
