French CNFA Season Rolls Toward Finals
- Monday, May 18 2015 @ 11:05 am ACST
- Contributed by: Wesley Hull
- Views: 3,280
The next two weekends will see the French Home and away season wind up with all eight teams playing their final matches prior to the start of the finals series. The final round will have an impact of the finals makeup for some teams, whilst others are assured of their finish already.
After a fascinating season, the curtain will close in June with the playing of the semi-finals and grand-final. Other teams not involved in finals action will turn their attention towards the 2015/16 season and prepare for the future.
Both the Strasbourg Kangourous and the Perpignan Tigers have been competitive this season but cannot reach the finals regardless of final round results. Strasbourg have their own unique situations which impact on their overall performance Strasbourg Kangourous - 2015 Snapshot ,whilst for the Tigers it has been a season of readjustment to being back in the national league after a period of absence.
The Paris Cockerels have been the benchmark this season. Undefeated, and having demolished their nearest rival, Toulouse Hawks, back in February, the Cockerels are well placed to take the crown from reigning premiers the Hawks. Toulouse has lost just that one game to Paris and have overcome all others to be guaranteed semi-final action at least.
It is the middle group that provide the fascination, with four teams from 3rd to 6th place locked on 3 wins each. That will change over the remaining matches, but there could be surprises.
Bordeaux Bombers, currently fifth, have the toughest job, drawn to play the Paris Cockerels. Not impossible, but playing away to the Paris Powerhouse makes a win a low possibility. It would be an upset of massive proportions for the Bombers to see finals action.
The Cergy-Pontoise Coyotes can hold fourth place if they win, as expected, against the Strasbourg Kangourous. It is an away trip which puts pressure on the Coyotes, but a win is highly likely.
The interesting battle is between the third placed Montpellier Firesharks and the fifth placed ALFA Lions from Lyon. The winner is guaranteed a finals berth, but should the Lions upset the Firesharks they could both see finals action if other results fall their way. For the Lions the season has been a breakout performance with three wins from six starts and a huge improvement. It is a credit to their players and supporters that the Lions have gone from an also ran to a finals contender is just a couple of seasons. Given that it is a home match for the Lions they are not without a chance. Time will tell.
This weekend’s games will see the Kangourous v Coyotes and the Lions v Firesharks do battle. The following weekend will see the Cockerels take on the Bombers and the Tigers host the Hawks.
All is set for an exciting month of CNFA football across France.