Walid Badi (Pontault-Combault HB)
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The Proligue clubs entered the competition for the 1st round of this 2021-2022 Coupe de France in the new format. Of the eight meetings, played yesterday and Tuesday evening, no big surprises, with however the beautiful victory of Pontault-Combault in the shock against Ivry (29-23).
As for the Coupe de la Ligue, the organizing bodies have decided to change the format of the Coupe de France. The clubs of N1, N2 and N3 do not participate this year, the first round therefore opposed the 16 clubs of Proligue. The eight qualified will have a second round to pass on October 12 to hope to face, in mid-December, the first Starligue clubs entering the competition.
In this week’s meetings, the Ile-de-France shock between Pontault-Combault and Ivry turned in favor of the players of Seine-et-Marne. Remy Gervelas’ teammates (10 saves) widened the gap in the last quarter of an hour. While there were still 18-18 in the 44th minute, the Pontellois accelerated and distanced the Rouge et Noir (25-20 in the 54th) thanks to the arm of their Ukrainian rookie Dmytro Gunko (6 goals). Pontault finally won 29-23 and reached the second round.
Overall, the other matches in this first round did not deliver huge surprises with 5 home wins. In a match removed and full of suspense, Billère snatched his qualification in the 7-meter jets against Cherbourg (36-35 SF). Caen beat Angers (27-24) with notably 6 goals from former Raphaëlois Alexian Trottet or 5 from Maxime Langevin. Sarrebourg defeated Besançon by the same score, with a notable performance from Hubert (8 goals). Dijon outclassed Strasbourg (34-26) with 6 goals from its indestructible pivot Marc Poletti and 6 also from the former young international Vincent Maguy (generation 97 of Mem, Richardson, Minne…). Finally Sélestat had a good performance at home by overcoming Massy (27-23) with 9 saves from Kriszt or 5 goals from Valentin.
Pierre Rubens (Tremblay en France HB) // Photo credit: Panoramic / K. Domas
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The only two teams to have triumphed away from home are therefore Tremblay and Nice. The YABA team won in Valencia (24-28), led by their recruits Camarero and Cohen (5 goals each) and by the excellent Rubens Pierre (12 saves). Finally, Cavigal Nice returned from Villeurbanne with his qualification (28-31). Pablo Marrochi (former Istréen) and Jéremi Pirani, 7 goals each, were able to respond and extinguish the villeurbanese inclinations (5 goals from the former Montpellier Zammit).
| Home club | Score | Visitor club |
| Pontault-Combault Handball | 29 – 23 | US Ivry |
| Sarrebourg MS HB | 27 – 24 | Grand Besançon DHB |
| Villeurbanne HA | 28 – 31 | Cavigal Nice |
| Caen Handball | 27 – 24 | Angers SCO |
| Billère Handball | 36 – 35 | JS Cherbourg |
| Valencia Handball | 24 – 28 | Tremblay Handball |
| Sélestat AHB | 27 – 23 | Massy EHB |
| Dijon MHB | 34 – 26 | Strasbourg EHB |
THE PROGRAM FOR THE FUTURE
Second round (October 12) : Round again only between Proligue teams (the 8 qualified this week)
Third round (December 17) : The 4 Proligue clubs from the 2nd round + those promoted to Starligue (Saran, Nancy) + the 6 lowest ranked clubs during the last Starligue season (Cesson, Istres, Créteil, Chartres, Dunkirk, Limoges)
Fourth round (March 23): Qualifiers + clubs classified between 3rd and 8th place in Starligue (Saint-Raphaël, Chambéry, Toulouse, Nîmes, Aix, Nantes)
Quarter-finals (April 21): Qualified + Montpellier and Paris
The semi-final will take place on May 14. As for the grand final, it is scheduled for June 11, 2022, in Bercy and will be held at the same time as the finals of the regional and departmental cups, on a beautiful day of celebration.
The regional and departmental French cups will begin on the weekend of October 30-31.
Tristan Paloc
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