Montpellier HB II secured a narrow 31-30 victory over Pays d’Aix at the FDI Stadium on Tuesday, maintaining their position in Nationale 1 masculine. The win came after a closely contested match, with Montpellier leading 17-15 at halftime.
The match saw contributions from several Montpellier players, including Dubois, who scored 7 goals, five of which were from free throws. Godard-Capdeville, the Montpellier goalkeeper, made 3 saves. Billy-Legrand also contributed with 4 saves. Other key scorers for Montpellier included Calbry and Agalede, each with 4 goals, and Soutoul with 6.
Pays d’Aix fought back throughout the second half, with Dubois’s performance proving pivotal in keeping the game close. Despite their efforts, they were unable to overcome Montpellier’s lead. Forêts and Schultz each recorded 5 saves for Pays d’Aix.
The victory for Montpellier II comes as the club’s first team recently returned to competition following the international break, defeating Sélestat 35-30. During that match, Adrien Godard-Capdeville, an 18-year-old goalkeeper, entered the game in the 57th minute and made a crucial save in the closing seconds. Godard-Capdeville is a product of the MHB Academy.
Meanwhile, Montpellier’s feminine team faced a more challenging outcome, suffering a 31-22 defeat against Dijon II. The feminine team struggled to find their rhythm, falling behind early in the match. Dijon’s Rosario Urban, returning from a knee injury, played a significant role in establishing an early lead for her team.
The contrasting results highlight differing fortunes for Montpellier’s handball teams, with the men’s reserve team maintaining their competitive edge while the women’s reserve team faced a setback. The men’s team’s next match against Billère will be crucial as they aim to regain the league lead.
