The National 1 Men’s Championship made its return this weekend. It was an opportunity to see Cavigal handball still in the running to aim for the top spots and promotion to the federal pool next season.
The National 1 Championship had been on hold for almost three months. Since December 15, following a narrow victory against GFC Ajaccio, Cavigal handball had not played an official match. While Cyril Parmentelot’s players played three friendly matches in recent weeks (two wins and one loss), the serious competition resumed this Sunday.
For this return, the reds and blacks hosted Chambéry, a team that the Niçois had defeated in the opening of the championship (31-32). This time, the situation was different. The Maralpins quickly took the lead. The gap increased to +5. However, early in the game, Alexis Bon, the standout player at the end of the year, received a yellow card. This sanction hindered his play. Fortunately, the club’s top scorer, Florian Graglia (52 goals), stepped up. Well-supported by Romain Mouchot, the two players scored nearly half of Cavigal’s goals this afternoon.
Maxime Aicardi decisive
But it wasn’t just the attackers who made the difference. Nice’s goalkeeper, Maxime Aicardi, also shined. With 16 saves and one goal from a throw-in at the start of the second half, he played a complete match, casting doubt in the minds of the Savoyards. The visitors also missed several opportunities. Although the score was close at halftime (11-10), it finally opened up in the second half. From the beginning of the second half, Nice took control of the ball. The outcome was that in seven minutes, Cavigal took a seven-goal lead and managed it well. Without a real reaction from the opposing attack, the Niçois were no longer threatened.
Final score (28-21) and as a result, a return to the championship podium, just one point behind leaders Montpellier and Grenoble. Everything is still possible in this second half of the championship, which promises to be full of suspense. The next meeting is in six days in Nîmes at 6:00 PM.
