Southern Counties can celebrate a monumental achievement as RIVER HAMBLE Pétanque Club secured a historic Euro Cup Final win in Worthing.
The club, based just outside Southampton, overcame 3 of the best club sides around to be crowned Champions of England.
River Hamble started their ascent at the title with a first round match against perennial runner ups, London Pétanque Club. The capital based club boast an array of talent, many with French heritage, and undoubted experience.
River Hamble felt the pressure of the task at hand when they succumbed to a whitewash in the round of Singles after levelling up the Triples at the start. The Singles losses meant River Hamble could not win the match, even though there were the Doubles still to play. River Hamble rallied to take two of the three remaining Doubles matches. Losing 20-11.
Match two was a face off against the 6 time Champions, Baldock Town. A heavyweight of the competition and the obvious favourites. However, the pre-tournament favourites were swatted aside in ruthless fashion.
River Hamble took both the Triples matches before winning 4 of the 6 Singles games, meaning they had won the match with a round spare. This didn’t deter the Southern Counties side, as they dispatched the three Doubles games also; inflicting a 27-4 win on the reigning champions, and ending their chances of a 7th successive title.
River Hamble knew they had a chance of winning the championship now. A win against Meadow Pétanque Club in the 3rd Match and a loss for London would be enough!
With Meadow out of the race, and with nothing to lose, River Hamble knew they couldn’t take anything for granted. With their professional, intense and focussed heads on, the Black and Red’s took to the piste.
In what can only be described as a “demolition job”, River Hamble whitewashed their Kent counterparts 31-0; winning every single game in the Triples, Singles and Doubles. Emphatic!
All eyes on London vs Baldock Town now.
With River Hamble finishing in quick fashion, they were able to watch on as the Triples unfolded in the remaining match.
Needing Baldock to win both to secure the win and hand River Hamble the crown.
With the pressure seemingly getting to London’s players, they were no match for Baldock Town and they were beaten in both triples, thus handing the Euro Cup crown over to River Hamble.
Baldock Town showed just why they are Champions; not giving up and playing with personal and team pride and a no surrender attitude.
River Hamble, Champions of England!
Congratulations to coach Glenn Floyd who oversaw the teams success. Glenn has organised every detail of River Hambles pursuit of silverware from the Semi Finals in Luton to the big day. Without Glenn, the team would not be able to function or concentrate on playing.
A massive well done to the playing squad: Karen Lombard, Kaylee Thatcher, Sammy Ogles, Steve Lombard, Callum Lombard and new recruits David Plumhoff, Marc Franco Llado and David Franco Cruz.
The team will now head off to the European Cup for Clubs main event in France, where they will take on Europe’s elite!
Good luck!
Full Results:
London PC 20-11 River Hamble
Baldock Town 23-8 Meadow PC
River Hamble 27-4 Baldock Town
London PC 22-9 Meadow PC
River Hamble 31-0 Meadow PC
Baldock Town 22-9 London PC
Table:
Team – Won – Game Points
1. River Hamble – 2 – 69
2. London PC – 2 – 51
3. Baldock Town – 2 – 48
4. Meadow PC – 0 – 17
– David Plumhoff
