France Make History With European U19 Team Title Success

France wrapped up a second successive clean sweep of titles as they defeated England in a tense European U19 Mixed Team Championship final in Krakow, Poland.

Meeting in the final for a fifth successive year, old rivals France and England played out a nail-biting 2/2 draw, with Les Bleuets taking victory 122-109 on points countback.

After Amir Khaled-Jousselin and Lauren Baltayan defended their Individual titles last week, France's victory in the Team event completed a Gallic title treble for the second year in a row.

With five European U19 Individual and Team gold medals each, Khaled-Jousselin and Baltayan have overtaken record holders James Willstrop, Chris Simpson and Emily Whitlock who all had four. Still only 17, Amir could amass seven next year!

The first tie was a repeat of last week's European U19 Individual final with Khaled-Jousselin taking on England's No.1 boy Dylan Roberts.

The first game was neck and neck until a crucial unforced tin by the Englishman at 8-8 gave Khaled-Jousselin the impetus he needed to claim it 11-8.

The Nancy-born star took the second more easily, but Roberts built a 10-4 lead in the third. That was reduced to 10-9, before Roberts was grateful to see the Frenchman's lob hit the out of court line to seal the game.

It was only a temporary reprieve for England, however, as Khaled-Jousselin reasserted himself in the fourth, taking it 11-4 to put les bleus 1/0 up.

Baltayan, playing the last game of her junior career before her 19th birthday next month, was ruthless in defeating Mariam Eissa 11-4, 11-6, 11-3 to put France 2/0 ahead.

But back came England, with British and English junior champion Emily Coulcher-Porter going two games up against Leelou Laporte. However, with match balls at 10-7, Laporte dug in and took a dramatic third game 14-12. That proved absolutely crucial.

Although Coulcher-Porter closed out the match 11-9, 11-5, 12-14, 11-5, that 3/1 scoreline meant Ronnie Hickling next had to win in straight games, and win well, to even give England a chance.

Hickling went 11-8, 11-6 up, but some rapid mathematics after the second game showed France had an unassailable 122-109 lead in points, and the Gallic celebrations began.

An emotional Baltayan said: "It's super special because it's my last junior match and this is a feeling that will stay with me.

"I have worked hard for it and the rewards are really happening. I am very proud of myself. I am so happy my hard work is really showing up on the court with these results.

"Every time we represent our country it's an honour. I really wanted to give 100% and I think we did that well this whole week."

Earlier, Netherlands had claimed bronze with a nail-biting 2/1 victory over Israel, for whom fourth place was their best ever performance at these championships (eclipsing their fifth place way back in 1994).

Elad Robenshtok had given Israel a 1/0 lead by beating Mattias Brinker in straight games, but last year's Dutch Junior Open winner Renske Huntelaar then levelled with a three-game victory over Ofri Maliach.

When recent German Junior Open finalist Elcke Mols conquered Naomi Wiegenfeld in three, Quinten van Es knew he needed only one game against Tamir Wiegenfeld to seal the win. After losing the first 15-13, he claimed the second 11-8 to spark wild Dutch celebrations.