Jaspers and Kozoom beat the leader in France

ANDERNOS - Kozoom's team with Dick Jaspers and Nikos Polychronopoulos is back in the race for a final place. The Andernos foursome defeated top-seeded Saint Quentin (Morales/Loncelle) 7-1 in the fourth round of the French Team Championship.

The other match between Soissons (Eddy Merckx/Martin Horn) and Morangis was won by Soissons with the maximum score 8-0. Soissons and Morangis did not show up in a high-class match: all games between 33 and 37 innings, 160 points in 138 innings means 1.159 on average for the winners.

Eddy Merckx beat Jean Reverchon 40-30 in 33, Pierre Soumagne won against Geoffroy Barras 40-20 in 33, Martin Horn beat Thomas Le Coat 40-24 in 35 and Mikaël Devogelaere beat Fabrice Puigvert 40-38 in 37, allowing Soissons to retake the group lead with 6 points, equal with Saint-Quentin. Kozoom is 3rd now with 4 points and Morangis can no longer avoid relegation in last place.

Dick Jaspers led in the match against Robinson Morales 15-12 in 13 and then went over his opponent with a series of 4-5-0-10 runs in the next four innings: 34-20 in 17 and finally 40-24 in 21. Nikos Polychronopoulos was trailing 14-26 in 19 innings against Johan Loncelle, but managed to win 40-36 in 34 innings.

The 5th day will be played on 16 and 17 March with Morangis-Kozoom and Soissons-St Quentin.