After their great victory against Nancy a month ago with a score of 8 to 4, the ONN girls needed to confirm this result to win the French championship title. This was accomplished after a superb battle of nearly an hour and fifteen minutes.
Just as they were learning about the Elite boys’ defeat a few minutes earlier in their semifinal against Montpellier, the ONN girls took to the Jean Bouin stadium at 8:30 PM, followed by the ASPTT Nancy girls and the beginners from the blue and white club.
Finally, it’s time to get into the water (“We’ve been dreaming of this match every night for a month,” team captain Sandra Demartines told us). Very focused, the Azurian girls start well with Perrine Metay scoring a penalty right from the start. The first eight minutes are a mere formality for the Nice team. They lead 5-2 at the end of the first quarter without really suffering from the rare Lorraine attacks.
The beginning of the second period was an opportunity for Nancy to have their 37-year-old player-coach Laure Gauthreau stay upfront, forcing Nice to attack 5 against 5 with only one defender. However, Robert Norait’s players do not seem really disturbed. Proof of this is that they continue their offensive festival to widen the gap by halftime (9-3). The Azurians manage the end of the match and the coach takes advantage of his team’s comfortable lead to get all his players involved in the celebration, especially the second goalkeeper, Vanessa “Bob” Merlet.
The crowd starts singing the obligatory “We are the champions” even before the final whistle gives way to euphoria.
The girls from Nice can burst into joy and embrace their loved ones in tears. They are French champions just like the reserve team crowned two months earlier.
The French champions: Anne-Gaëlle Miry, Lorie Flickinger, Perrine Metay, Sandra Demartines, Clio Demartines, Emilie Alberto, Eugénie Pirat, Marie-Pierre Arnold, Elise Lefert, Angela Winstanley, Sara Horvath, Adelaïde Pope, Vanessa Merlet
Reactions:
Christophe Lotigié (Director of Sports at the city of Nice): It’s magnificent and it’s a great first for the girls because they have never reached this level before. Big congratulations to water polo which is a spearhead in Nice.
Jean-Claude Mari (Deputy Mayor for Sports in Nice): We are going to celebrate. We were used to it with the boys but this time it’s the girls. It’s a very nice gift to the city of Nice.
Anne-Gaëlle Miry (Goalkeeper, elected best player of the final): I am very surprised by my election because there is usually a ranking for goalkeeper and player. It touches me a lot since it was perhaps my last match. Obviously, it’s the whole team that made us have such a great time today (Saturday NDLR) and that we got here.
Robert Norait (Coach): I am very happy, especially for the girls. They deserve this title given their hard work throughout the year.
Sandra Demartines (Captain): It’s done, we are like in a dream but it’s no longer a dream, it’s reality. We are very happy, there are no words. I still can’t believe it, I can’t get over it. It’s great. This is the culmination of ten years of work.
Marie-Pierre Arnold: We owe a lot to Elie Carreau who worked with us for eight years and who is behind the scenes. Robert (Norait) has invested a lot. He united us into a cohesive group. That’s what made us champions; we played together. Now, we’re going to party.
Angela Winstanley (Top scorer of the club): I am exhausted but I feel good. This title is great especially for players who have been here for a long time like Sandra and Marie-Pierre.
Eugénie Pirat (Youngest of the group): This is the greatest title so it’s huge. It’s the best day of my life. We have an amazing team, I love it. Plus, there’s the title with the reserve. It makes me want to go on until I’m forty (she’s 17 NDLR) (laughs).
Jean Monnot (President of the ONN): I am happy, it’s a marvelous title. The girls are reaping the fruits of five-six years of work. Next year we will have to defend the titles and make significant progress in Europe, that will be the objective.
Claude Canu (Director of the ONN): I am the only woman on the staff, I am like the mother of the players. They threw themselves at me at the end of the match and one of them gave me her medal. It makes me proud. They really deserved this victory because they are gems. None of them is paid but they remain happy to be together and work as a group. It’s magnificent.
Weekend results:
Females:
Nice – Nancy 11-6
Cadets: (In Marseille)
Nice – St Jean d’Angély 7-3
Nice – Aix en Provence 17-3
Nice – Marseille 5-4
The Cadets are French champions
Elite: (In Marseille)
1/2 Final: Nice – Montpellier 7-8
3rd place: Nice – Sète 14-6
The Elite finish third
Photo Credit: https://nice-waterpolo.com/
