American Football: The Toulon Gunners fail in the final
" It's cruel. " If there's one expression that sums up the Division 3 final between the Toulon Gunners and the La Courneuve Flash reserve team, it's this one. This Sunday, at the Léo-Lagrange complex in Toulon, it could be heard everywhere, in the stands as well as on the pitch.
The Toulon Gunners lost 0-7, a defeat that came in the dying moments of the match. With the score still level at the end of the final quarter, Toulon gave in, conceding a touchdown with... six seconds left in the match. The converted goal, bringing the score to 0-7, leaving the home side with no chance of equalizing.
A cruel result for Toulon, who were hoping to win their first national senior title.
"We gave it our all, we tried everything," said Gunner Romain Mayousse after the match. "They held their own, they're a team that deserves all the praise we've been able to give them ," confirmed Courneuvien coach Axel Tollet . "It was a close match. We won in the end, but it's always terrible for those who lose like that."
Too many mistakes"Matches like this are only lost on mistakes," said one of Toulon's captains, Alexandre Leclere. He's not the only one in the squad to make this analysis. "Mistakes we shouldn't have made cost us the match," confided Florian Garnero. "We put obstacles in our own way," added Fabio Vanni.
While many factors led to the Yellow and Blues' failure (the absence of several key players due to injury, a more substantial and rigorous opposing squad), the Var's errors cost them the most. These errors notably prevented the harbor pirates from scoring points.
"A lack of mental discipline"Just like in the last quarter, where after an excellent run by Lyroy Ampiraza, Toulon found themselves 5 yards (about 4.50m) from the end zone (1). A great opportunity to score a touchdown, synonymous with 6 points.
Unfortunately, this one will be spoiled because of three "unnecessary" errors, according to Guillaume Malcor, the coach. Each of them will push the Gunners back 5 yards. 5+5+5… The calculation is not difficult: the Varois found themselves 20 yards away and thus wasted a round, the magazine being almost empty after the previous opportunities – including two field goals – missed.
"Professionals make them, it would be incredible not to make them," confided Alexandre Leclere, regarding these errors. "It's inherent to D3 . We made them too," added the Courneuvien coach. "It's a lack of mental discipline. We let ourselves get carried away by our emotions. It's a shame," specified Guillaume Malcor.
Pride despite defeatCertainly, the Yellow and Blue were disappointed and especially sad (some players could not hold back their tears at the end of the match) but they were "proud of their performance" . "Reaching the final is not something that happens every day for the Gunners. I am proud of this group and the work we have accomplished." Alexandre Leclere was not the only player to express this feeling after the defeat: "It is a disappointment on a sporting level but an accomplishment in terms of development", concluded Guillaume Malcor, optimistic for the next season.
1. Area of the field where touchdowns are scored.
Although they thought they would refuse promotion (acquired on the pitch) due to a lack of financial means, the Gunners could finally play in the second division next season.
" If we can try for D2, we will. The city confirmed to us today (yesterday) that they are behind us ," confided Guillaume Malcor.
In this eventuality, the squad will have to strengthen: " We need to have more players. It's no secret that we played against a team with 55 players on the sidelines. We only had 37. That's already a lot for playing with 11 players, but in a sport like this, you need depth in your squad. "
Var-Matin
