The fourth stage of the Sport-Boules League M1 took place on March 20 and 21, 2026, in Chazelles-sur-Lyon. OGC Nice, engaged in the fight for top places, returns with six additional points. The team from the French Riviera maintains the seventh place in the overall standings, in a still open championship.
Before traveling to the Loire, OGC Nice held the seventh place with 26 points. The team led by Didier Abrate remained in the top part of the standings. However, the gap with the top remained significant, with a 24-point deficit from the leader CRO Lyon and 14 points from the podium.
The first stages had produced mixed results. In Saint-Quentin-Fallavier, Nice had a tough start before chaining three victories. During the next stage in Mâcon, the Nice team managed to reach the semi-finals, which still stands as their best performance of the season. In Saint-Vulbas, their journey ended in the semi-finals. In Mâcon, a third place in the group was followed by success in classification matches.
The event in Chazelles-sur-Lyon was anticipated as an important moment. The Nice group included Bron, Génelard, and Saint-Quentin-Fallavier. Four teams were clustered within twelve points in the general standings. The balance seemed real before the first matches.
Mixed results in a competitive group
The matches confirmed this density. Friday night, Nice triumphed over Bron with a score of 6 to 3. At the same time, Saint-Quentin-Fallavier overpowered Génelard (6 to 5). This first round established an initial hierarchy without creating a gap.
Saturday morning, the situation became tense. Nice was defeated by Saint-Quentin-Fallavier (3 to 6). Génelard dominated Bron (13 to 9). The positions remained open before the last group rotation.
In the third match, Nice came to a draw with Génelard (8 to 8). Meanwhile, Saint-Quentin-Fallavier confirmed their consistency by beating Bron (13 to 7). The group ranking was decided on details.
Nice finished third, edged out by Génelard in general goal difference (+3 to 0). This difference weighed on the allocation of places. The team from Nice then fell in the classification match against Décines with a score of 2 to 13.
A seventh place retained before a home event
At the end of this new stage, Nice totals 32 points. The club remains in the seventh place, level with Décines. The gap with the top of the standings has widened. Métropole de Lyon occupies the first place with 68 points. CRO Lyon follows with 54 points, ahead of Plaine de l’Ain with 50 points.
The stage’s outcome is measured. Six additional points contribute to the overall standings. The team demonstrated the ability to compete in tight matches, but without managing to overcome a decisive hurdle.
In Chazelles-sur-Lyon, the Nice team consisted of Emmanuel Bilon, Jérémy Micoud, Bastien Paradis, Romain Garcia, and Frédéric Ascensi. This experienced group forms a foundation for the remainder of the season.
The final of the stage pitted Béziers against Métropole de Lyon. Béziers prevailed with a score of 12 to 5. This result confirms the competitiveness of the championship and the diversity of contenders.
The next stage will take place in Nice on April 3 and 4, 2026. This home event represents an opportunity to close the gap with the leading teams. The schedule still allows several stages to alter the standings.
In a championship spread over ten events, each performance counts. Nice remains positioned in the top third of the standings. The upcoming matches will need to transform this position into a clearer dynamic.
