The eight French Elite League teams will meet from May 21st to 24th in Montpellier and Beaucaire for the annual Challenge de France. The winner of this four-day tournament receives a slot in next year’s European Cup.
In 2008 the TEMPLIERS SENART collected the trophy and tries to defend the title. The team didn’t start well into the 2009 season, but showed off their rising form by scoring 74 runs in the past four league games. The home team MONTPELLIER BARRACUDAS, which won the Challenge in 2006, should also be considered favored, as they beat reigning French champion ROUEN HUSKIES twice last weekend and will also bolster their roster with Anthony and Gregory Cros, which will arrive after finishing the college season.
Obviously the HUSKIES and current Elite League leader SAVIGNY LIONS, winners of 2007 and 2005, are also poised to go all the way. The surprisingly strong LA GUERCHE HAWKS also should play a role in the tournament. With five teams being capable to win the event, the four days definitely will provide plenty of drama. The eight teams are split into two pools and will start with a round-robin preliminary round. Semi-finals and finals will follow on Saturday and Sunday.
Schedule:
Thursday, May 21
Montpellier (Pool A):
9h30 Senart Templiers vs La Guerche Hawks
13h00 Montpellier Barracudas vs Montigny Cougars
16h30 La Guerche Hawks vs Montpellier Barracudas
Beaucaire (Pool B):
9h30 Rouen Huskies vs Clermont-Ferrand Arvernes
13h00 Savigny-sur-Orge Lions vs Toulouse Tigers
16h30 Clermont-Ferrand Arvernes vs Savigny-sur-Orge Lions
Friday, May 22
Beaucaire (Pool A):
9h30 Montpellier Barracudas vs Senart Templiers
13h00 Montigny Cougars vs La Guerche Hawks
16h30 Senart Templiers vs Montigny Cougars
Montpellier (Pool B):
9h30 Savigny-sur-Orge Lions vs Rouen Huskies
13h00 Toulouse Tigers vs Clermont-Ferrand Arvernes
16h30 Rouen Huskies vs Toulouse Tigers
Saturday, May 23
10h00 Semi-Final I
14h00 Semi-Final II
Sunday, May 24
10h00 Bronze Medal Match
14h00 Final