Paris (AFP)
Montpellier, easy winner of a too small Chambéry team (42-27) took advantage of the setback from Limoges to St-Raphaël (35-30) to grab 2nd place in the handball Starligue, Friday for the rest of the 11th day.
The Héraultais, who are three games late, thus come back to 4 points behind the undefeated leader, Paris SG, whose meeting against Istres has been postponed.
The Parisians will go to Bougnol, the den of Montpellier, on December 16 for a match that promises.
Montpellier, which inflicted a 4-0 entry to Chambéry and led 7-1 after 7 minutes, has never been threatened.
Thanks to Jonas Truchanovicius (5 of 7 on shots), Yanis Lenne (5/5) but also Kyllian Villeminot (4/7), the MHB, who led by 7 points at the break (20-13), flew over the meeting against a team made up of very young players, due to the absence of many holders.
"We played a complete game with a lot of commitment. I am satisfied with the way and the result," said Hérault coach Patrice Canayer.
"Today we are scoring points, we are moving forward, it’s very good like that," he added.
At the same time, Limoges gave up its place of dolphin by losing (35-30) logically to St Raphaël, 7th in the standings.
Long tight (8-8 after 15 minutes), with a very short advantage for the locals at the break (16-15), the meeting was finally settled thanks in particular to a very good series of Drevy Paschal, author of 3 goals consecutive in two minutes to bring the lead of St-RaphAêl to 6 units (29-23).
Limoges came back to 3 goals with 3 minutes from time but it was too late.
The 11th day continues on Saturday with the two Aix-Nîmes and Ivry-Toulouse meetings and will end on Sunday with the trip from Nantes to Dunkirk.
© 2020 AFP