While OGCN lost against their Marseille neighbors just like the rugby and hockey players, only the handball players of OGCN managed to win this weekend. Cavigal Basket, Nice-Volley, and the Water Polo men had no scheduled competition. A review of your clubs’ results.
OGCN: The derby goes to Marseille
After a defeat two weeks ago on Nancy’s field (0-1), Claude Puel’s men returned to Stade du Ray for the 30th round Ligue 1 clash. With a victory, the Aiglons had the opportunity to move ahead of Saint-Étienne, who drew at Troyes (2-2), and their evening’s opponent in the rankings. A 3rd place that would mean a Preliminary Round in the Champion’s League.
But it was Élie Baup’s players who took the lead. Fifteen minutes into the game, André-Pierre Gignac opened the scoring with a header after a corner from Mathieu Valbuena. The Nice players besieged Steeve Mandanda’s goal unsuccessfully despite Dario Cvitanich’s chances and a powerful shot from Kévin Anin, parried by the Marseille goalkeeper.
The Marseille team finally won 1-0 in a packed Stade du Ray. Unfortunately, the desire wasn’t enough for the Aiglons. With this defeat, they fell to 6th place, with 48 points, and allowed Lille (49 pts), who won on Brest’s field (2-1), to take 5th place. Didier Digard’s teammates will travel to Toulouse this Saturday (8 p.m.).
Hockey: Play-offs start poorly for Nice
After definitively securing their ticket 10 days ago after a final victory at the ice rink in Toulouse-Blagnac (5-2), Stan Sutor’s men faced Bordeaux, 3rd of the regular season, in their first play-off match. It was indeed the Gironde players who left Jean Bouin with the victory.
The match started badly for the Aiglons. Two back-to-back goals by Vincent Cadren and Dejan Zemva put Bordeaux safely ahead. But Nicolas Motreff scored twice to put his teammates back on track. The second period also started poorly for the Azur players. Andrej Zidan and Romain Masson reinstated a two-goal difference between the two teams. Stefan Majernik kept doubts about the outcome of the game. Bordeaux led 4-3 at the dawn of the last period.
Four minutes into the final period, Stan Sutor’s men equalized thanks to the Finn Joona Peranen. The Jean Bouin Ice Rink urged its players on but it was the Aquitaine team that found the final breach 10 minutes before the end (Raphaël Larrieu). The Nice team will have to win in Gironde this Saturday to try to snatch the Belle on Sunday, also in Aquitaine.
Handball: OGCN wins in Mios
For their last match of the regular season, the OGCN Handball women struck hard by winning in Mios, near Bordeaux (30-25). They secured a second consecutive victory and moved out of the last-place spot to Dijon, who lost 34 to 25 at home to Metz.
But Sébastien Gardillou’s protégées have no choice. They must go through the play-downs to avoid relegation. The principle is simple. It is simply a mini-championship among the last four of the LFH (Toulon-Saint Cyr, Besançon, Nice, and Dijon). With this victory against Mios, they already start with a two-point advantage, Toulon has 4, Besançon 3, and Dijon 0. First match for the Aiglonnes this Saturday in Besançon.
Rugby: A downfall for Stade Niçois
The Stade Niçois players returned to Valette-du-Var to finally play their match against the Var team after the cancellation a week and a half ago. The capital azur players were on a series of six consecutive victories, including the last one with a big score against Gap-Hautes Alpes (74-10). But this series ended this Sunday on Var lands after a 25 to 16 defeat. The club now has a 5-point deficit behind Berre, leader of Group 9 before their last match of the season this Sunday against Stade Phocéen.
The Cavigal Basket players had no scheduled match this weekend. Rachid Méziane’s team has a big trip this Saturday to face the 4th in LF2, Léon Tregor. The Niss’Angels are still leading the Championship with a slight lead over their closest contenders, Calais (Nice 42 / Calais 41).
We will have to wait for April 13 to see the ONN water polo players return to competition with the reception of Noisy-le-Sec. The Nice team is still 3rd in the Elite tied on points with Sète (28 pts), with a better goal difference, but the Sète team has two fewer matches.
The Nice-Volley team also had no match. Mladen Kasic’s players will host Orange for their last home game of the season. So meet this Saturday at Salle Palmeira from 8 p.m. An evening in partnership with Handicap International.
