The 2nd Italian One Wall Championships were held in the Pino Morino  Sports Palace in  Nizza Monferrato on November 16th-18th last.  Ireland  was represented by Carrickmore’s Gary McCrory, Darragh Daly, Pauric McGlinchey & Niall Flynn. Tom O’Connor the International Officer of the Irish Handball team, Eugene Maguire Secretary of the Ulster Handball  Council and Paddy Grogan accompanied the Irish team. The Dublin team consisting of Frank Semple, Gary McNulty, Michael McGee & Darren Flynn also made the trip. The Dublin players had an overnight stay in Bergamo before meeting up with the Welsh team on the 2.5 hour journey to Nizza Monferrato.  When we arrived we met up the top U.S. One Wall teams of Tony Roberts, Willie Polonco, Joey Caplin, and Pee Wee Castro. Steven  Robalino, Victor Lopierre along with Paul Williams the World Handball President and Howard Eisenberger the U.S. One Wall coach.  Overall 9 countries and 21 teams took part Wales, England, Ireland, France, Belgium, Basque Country, Holland, U.S.A. and the hosts Italy.

There was a reception for all the participating teams. The hard working Carlo Berrino one of the main organizers welcomed all the players to the Championships.  The Mayor of Nizza Monferrato Maurizieo Carciome spoke and welcomed all the handball teams and officials to the championships and said it was important for the City. He thanked the sponsors, the sport ministry and hoped that everyone would have a nice stay and come back again next year.
 

Irish Team Members;- Gary McCrory, Eugene Maguire, Padraig McGlinchey, Paddy Grogan & Niall Flynn	Dublin Team Members, Michael McGee, Frank Semple, Darren Flynn & Gary McNulty

The draws were made something similar to the World Cup and there were 5 groups of 4 teams. After the wine reception the Dublin team travelled 30 kms to their base the City of Asti while the Irish team only arrived in later that evening.  On the Saturday morning all 9 Country’s participating teams lined up beside their National flags and this was added to with TV coverage and a large group of young partisan Italian children who cheered wildly especially when the Italian team made their entrance onto the courts. Soon after the games started. Games were played just to 11 and it took a while for the Irish teams to settle.  After the qualifying stages not one Irish team made it through to the Cup quarter-finals. Darren Flynn & Michael McGee missed out on a quarter final place when they were just edged out on point’s difference to Holland. Instead the Irish teams battled it out in the Plate Competition. In the final the Irish no.1 pairing of Gary McCrory & Darren Flynn beat the Italian team of Oscar Giribaldi & Gianluca Busca by 11-9, 11-9. The Irish teams finished between 9-16th positions in a field of 21 teams

Williams & Berrino spread the wonderful news of handball

Before the U.S.A. played I interviewed World Handball President Paul Williams and I began by asking him that he must have been very impressed with how the Italian Handball Association have organized the One Wall championships.  “Yes, I am impressed said Williams.”  I congratulate Carlo and the host committee for doing a great job.  The players have been great. It is good to see the Country’s that have been participating.  Their level of play has improved tremendously over the last 5 years so it was great to see.”
Next question I asked Williams what words of encouragement would he give to Carlo and the Italian Handball Association to become even stronger members of the World handball family?  Well, they have taken the first step by joining the Word Handball Council which has been great.   Carlo has done a great job making sure that other country’s especially those like the Ivory Coast, Liberia, Malta, and Romania their officials have been involved now and are spreading the game of handball to their countries.  There doing a great job already encouraging because representatives that have attended this represent 54 other countries that are interested in the sport. Over the next 10 years if we can even get even half of them to join it would be a great accomplishment.”

I then asked Carlo Berrino one of the main organizers how did handball start in Italy?  We started a couple of years ago like a joke. “We started with the national championship in 1 day then last year with the Irish and French taking part.  We are very happy and surprised all these people came.”   I then asked Carlo what pleased him most over the weekend?  I think the official opening replied Carlo.  It was fantastic all the players, children, the TV. I am really very happy for that. It was like a little dream that happened.
 

The Welsh Team at the Italian One-Wall Championships	The Basque Team

Team U.S.A star in Nizza Monferrato

Meanwhile in the Cup semi-finals it was dominated by the U.S. teams. Tony Roberts & William “lefty Willie” Polanco beat Steven Robalino & Victor Lopierre by 11-6, 11-4.  The athletic looking Polonco was very fast while Roberts doesn’t move too much on the court instead he uses his positioning and keen eye on the ball to great effect.  In the other semi-final Joey Caplan and PeeWee Castro defeated their Basque opponents by 11-5, 11-4.  Seeing the U.S. teams playing One Wall just takes your breath away. The entire U.S. team gave awesome displays and the all European players and spectators could only admire and acknowledge the amazing talent these players have for One Wall.

Roberts & Polanco win Italian One Wall Final

 In the final the ultra cool Roberts and Polanco took an early 3-0 lead but Joey Caplan and PeeWee Castro pulled back level at 3-3.  The World champions went well clear at 10-4 but an inspired Castro pulled it back to 10-7 with 3 great points.  In the end it finished 11-8 to the World champions. In game two the World champions had a good 5-1 lead as Caplan and Castro shot wide of target.  There were some excellent breathtaking rallies from all four players close to the front wall pounding the wall onto the wall and back again. Their great athleticism all over the court, last ditch diving to the floor to keep the ball in play.  Even the lowest of shots to the front wall was being returned. The shot had to be perfect otherwise the rally went on. It was a joy to watch these U.S. players in action.  Their lightening reactions and split second timing when hitting the ball was pure magic to watch. Roberts got a cheeky point after a great rally.  Castro & Caplan expected a high return but instead Roberts just nudged the ball low on the front wall for a 6-1 lead. Castro & Caplan  then piled on the pressure and came back to 6-4 but yet again the World Champions opened up to lead 9-4. An amazing rally took place with Caplan diving in 3 times to keep the ball in ball, Roberts was on the ground and Castro hit it as hard as he could and yet somehow Roberts on the ground connected with Castro’s pile driver to  win a point that nobody else would have won for a 10-4 lead.    Castro & Caplan saved the 1st game ball against them as they threw themselves into action and came back strongly at the World champions. Their great team play brought them to within a whisker of Roberts & Polanco lead. Just as they were about to take the 2nd game Caplan returned the ball over the front line.  Roberts got into serve and Caplin shot wide on the left side to give the World champions the Italian Championship.  After the presentations were made to the Champions and runners-up each player received a medal as a memento.

I asked William Polanco that it was a great match overall, 4 excellent players giving it everything for the win especially in the second game.  You went 10-4 up against Pee wee and Joe were you a little bit concerned that when they came back strongly and nearly took the second game of you?  Yes, I was actually a bit nervous. I was not as playing as well as the first game.  I was hitting shots hard down the middle trying to get Joe Caplan to hit the ball with his left because Pee Wee is well known with his strength on his right hand.  They got some amazing gets and held us at 10 for about 2 rallies that shows the sportsmen that they are.  The talent they have.  Tony came into it and knew what he had to do and started to make kill shots.  I played the defensive that I needed to do in order to pull it out. I was hoping that we would not have to go to a third game.  We knew we had to start off strong and shoot it out.”
 
 

Open d'Italia Champions William Polanco and Tony Roberts with Paul Williams .	Open d'Italia Runners-up Pee Wee Castro and Joe Caplan USA

The Italian One Wall Nationals in Nizza was an outstanding success. For Carlo Berrino with welcoming eyes and with the warm heart of a lion his hard working committee have excelled.  His team of referees were there for the first game and right up until the last point was won and were also fantastic. The interpreters also were helpful to all the participation Countries. The entire Irish delegation will despite the results have very happy memories of their visit to Nizza Monferrato and would like to say to Carlo Berrino and his team Bene Grazie. See you in 2008.

MAIN RESULTS
Italian One-Wall Open Championships:
At the Pino Morino Sports Palace, Nizza Monferrato, Bergamo, Milan:
Cup (Final): T. Roberts & W. Polonco (USA) bt J. Caplin & P. Castro (USA) 11-8, 11-9.
Plate (Final): G. McCrory & N. Flynn (Ireland) bt O. Giribaldi & G. Busca (Italy) 11-9, 11-9.

The following are the final Irish placings
9th Place: N. Flynn & G. McCrory (Tyrone/Carrickmore).
11th Place: F. Semple (Dublin/Brian Boru) & G. McNulty (Dublin/Na Fianna).
12th Place: D. Daly & P. McGlinchey (Tyrone/Carrickmore).
16th Place: M. McGee (Brian Boru) & D. Flynn (DIT).