France: Clear favorite has emerged from Conference B
Week 4 in the French D1 Elite, France’s top league, culminated with a number of surprising score lines over the weekend in Conference B but one had the greatest impact.
Following a full weekend of games, the Marseille Blue Stars won their fourth straight and remained as only one of only two unbeaten teams in France and the only one left in Conference B. The team from southern France would now seem to have cemented themselves as the league’s number two team behind the La Courneuve Flash.
Marseille Blue Stars (4-0) 35 – Aix Argonautes (3-1) 7
Blue Stars DE Alexandre Dedieu bearing down on Argonautes QB Photo: Frederic Llopis Photographie
Both teams came into the game undefeated looking to place themselves on top of Conference B. Despite the Argonautes‘ league-best passing attack led by QB Micahel Pina, they were only able to put seven points on the board.
The Blue Stars physical rushing attack gashed the Argonautes all day as Florian Angelini racked up 176 yards and one touchdown. But it was surprisingly the Blue Stars defense that shone the brightest. Fayade Said put on a clinic, sacking Pina 4.5 times.
The Blue Stars were always the favorites coming into the game but the inability of the Argonauts to get more than one score on the board shows a Flash/Blue Stars final perhaps already being a forgone conclusion.
Catalan Grizzlys (3-1) 34 – Grenoble Centaurs (0-4) 12
Photo: Zebulon Photo
Catalan entered the game on a two-game winning streak, and they continued that upward trend by beating the Centaurs in what was initially a close game.
At halftime, the Grizzlies led only 14 to 6 in what looked to be a tight matchup. The Centaurs were able to get another six on the board early in the second half to make it just a two-point game, but the Grenoble team then cracked in the final quarter and suffered their fourth defeat in as many games.
Ours de Toulouse (2-2) 34 – Montpellier Hurricanes (0-4) 13
Photo: Corentin L’Huillier
This week 4 matchup saw the bad luck continue for the Hurricanes as they lost 34 – 13 to the Ours on a rainy day in France.
After an initial Hurricanes lead in the first half, two touchdowns by the Ours in the third quarter gave Montpellier their fourth defeat of the season. Both teams were forced to lean heavily on their running game, but it was Ours running back Gerald Childs who came out on top amassing 137 yards and one touchdown.
Photos: Frederic Llopis Photographie, Corentin L’Huillier, Zebulon Photo
