Handball: dominant, Frontignan THB put Ferrari back on track

The Frontignans almost never let hope settle into the Auvergne ranks. FREE NOON – Jérôme Belluire

The victory (38-33) acquired this Friday March 8 against Cournon allowed the FTHB to be reunited.

Out of four consecutive defeats when it came to challenge Frontignan, Cournon d’Auvergne failed to stop the bad series. The Muscatiers, who also had things to be forgiven for, almost never opened the door, dominating from the start. « The previous defeat in Caen put us in a complicated situation », says Asier Antonio. « When you work hard and it doesn't pay off, it’s difficult… So we continue, to get a little closer to success. There, from the first second, the players responded. The tactical change, moving to “1-5”, allowed for more intensity. It was a good decision, but it was thanks to the physical commitment of the players that it worked. »

Defense as a driving force

However, the Auvergnats held on. « It’s an experienced team, with many years in Proligue. We knew that they were not going to give up, that we should not panic after a failed shot. » And it worked. Stubborn, brawling but also carried by a Kévin Mesnard of the great evenings, the Frontignanais succeeded in accelerating and thus extinguishing all adverse intentions. « We managed, in the second half, to recover more balls to place counter-attacks », continues the FTHB coach. « From there, we controlled the match. A little too much perhaps… If there was anything to say about our performance, it would indeed be that we could have ended the match with a bigger gap. We need to work on it, to finish our matches better. But where we come from, this victory feels good before the little truce. »

The FTHB remains sixth, one length behind Cherbourg which has a match in hand. Next match on Friday March 22 at leader Tremblay.

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