PE EuroCup Trophy Champions!
Having successfully negotiated the earlier rounds of this national knockout competition and finishing as runner up in the semi-final group, the Bath Grand Cru team travelled to Worthing, Sussex on 17th August to compete for the trophy against the other 3 runners up teams (Leicester, Campetanque and The Anglesey Arms) ie club teams ranked 5 to 8 in the country.
As expected, all matches proved to be truly competitive with teams including highly skilled and experienced players. The pressure was on to make effective use of every boule played.
Under the captaincy and leadership of Dave Ramplin, the Grand Cru team was well motivated and ready for this day. The first match saw off the challenge from Leicester with a convincing 4-1 win.
Next, with the players feeling the confidence of that success, it was the Campetanque team which was dispatched with equal efficiency… another 4-1 win.
The final match was the decider. Both Grand Cru and The Anglesey Arms had arrived at this stage having achieved 2 wins from their 2 matches. Whichever team was to win would be champions.
This match was to be “a nail biter.” Anglesey took the first win in the opening triples, and were on top in the other. It was at a crucial time when astute captaincy and a timely substitution made the change which turned that game to gain a narrow win. So, the score was 1-1 after the initial first round of triples games.
That left the 3 pairs games to determine the winner. In one of these, the Grand Cru pair of Dave Ramplin and Oussema Hamdaoui managed to get on top from early on and reach the 13 points required for victory. In the remaining two games both Grand Cru teams were behind. Was the trophy slipping away?
It was then that Thierry Sarkissian and Fe Lye, playing against the opposition’s strongest and most experienced mixed pair, turned the game and match around. They pointed and shot so consistently accurately, making astute tactical decisions, and managed to gain that decisive win and the 3-2 overall match score.
The trophy was again with Bath Grand Cru, last won in 2021.
Club Captain Chris Garratt said, “The most pleasing aspect of this notable win for our club was the way the players approached the games and how each and every member of the squad showed such consistent and excellent form throughout each game. There were definitely no easy wins, and nor did we win because of poor play or mistakes by the opponents. The Grand Cru players rose to the occasion and were victorious due to a performance of real excellence, high level of individual skills and sound teamwork. Well played all!”
It was so gratifying to regain this trophy, with the team pleased to dedicate their triumph to Andy Briggs who passed away from cancer earlier this year, a top club player who had been a member of the previous winning team in 2021.
(Squad: Dave Ramplin (capt), Sam Ramplin, Fe Lye, Oussema Hamdaoui, Steve Smith, Thierry Sarkisssian, Mark Gay, John Randall, Chris Garratt)