News · 12 July 2026
Masters de Pétanque 2026: Rocher, Puccinelli and Robineau win the 2nd stage
NewsResults of the 2nd stage of the Masters de Pétanque 2026 in Saint-Gilles-Croix-de-Vie: Rocher, Puccinelli, and Robineau beat Zigler 13-8 in the final.1.The Vendée stage podium
The Rocher team built their victory in two stages: a controlled qualification in the pool, then a final phase of a very high level. The final against the Zigler team, won 13-8, confirms the weight of the Rocher-Puccinelli-Robineau trio in this 2026 season.
2.The pool results
In pool A, Rocher struck hard from the start against Doerr (13-4), before suffering a setback against the Étoiles du Sud (3-13). The play-off put the team back on track with a 13-9 victory against Doerr. The qualifiers from this pool are therefore the Étoiles du Sud and Rocher.
In pool B, Bonetto dominated Zigler (13-6) then the Dream Team (13-5). Zigler, beaten in the first match, held on by winning 13-12 against Saint-Gilles-Croix-de-Vie then 13-5 in the play-off against the Dream Team. The qualifiers are Bonetto and Zigler.
| Phase | Result | Consequence |
|---|---|---|
| Pool A | Rocher beats Doerr 13-4 | Solid start from Rocher |
| Pool A | Étoiles du Sud beat Rocher 13-3 | Passage through the play-off |
| Pool A play-off | Rocher beats Doerr 13-9 | Qualification |
| Pool B | Bonetto beats Zigler 13-6 | Bonetto takes the advantage |
| Pool B play-off | Zigler beats Dream Team 13-5 | Zigler joins the semi-finals |
3.Semi-finals and final
The semi-finals delivered two very different messages. Zigler inflicted a 13-0 on the Étoiles du Sud, a spectacular revenge after the first stage. For their part, Rocher eliminated Bonetto 13-9 in a tighter match, which opened the way to a highly anticipated final.
In the final, Rocher won 13-8 against Zigler. This score tells of a closely contested game, but also an ability to close things out at important moments. With Rocher shooting, Puccinelli reading the play and Robineau setting the tempo, the trio has a rare balance for the short formats of the Masters.
The official Masters page indicates that by winning the Vendée stage, Rocher, Puccinelli and Robineau join the top of the 2026 overall standings.
4.The women's result
The women's programme also delivered its verdict at Saint-Gilles-Croix-de-Vie. Valérie Jousse, Frédérique Segret and Dorine Mesmin won the 2nd stage of the Women's Masters against Sophie Aillerie, Sandrine Pichereau-Voisin and Daisy Frigara by a score of 13 to 4.
5.What this success changes
Sportingly, the Rocher team sends a signal after a first stage won by the Étoiles du Sud. The 2026 circuit looks more open than a simple duel of favourites: Zigler is responding well, Bonetto remains dangerous and Doerr keeps the power to resurface at a future stage.
The official calendar announces the rest of the Masters with a 3rd stage on 16 July, then other summer dates until the end of August. In this stage format, winning early earns points, but above all a psychological momentum. Rocher, Puccinelli and Robineau leave Vendée with both.
The key to this stage is the reaction after the setback in the pool. A team that loses 13-3 then wins the play-off, the semi-final and the final shows an essential quality in the Masters: forgetting quickly and starting again in the right way.
To follow pools, play-offs, semi-finals and finals without losing track, a good organisational tool saves clubs time.
Discover6.Sources consulted
- Official website of the Masters de Pétanque, “Results” page, stage 2 Saint-Gilles-Croix-de-Vie.
- Sportmag, “Masters de Pétanque: all the results of the 2nd stage at Saint-Gilles-Croix-de-Vie”, published 25 June 2026.
- Official website of the Masters de Pétanque, 2026 standings page and stage calendar.
Image used: Sportmag press photo / Masters de Pétanque - GDP JF Gobertier, downloaded from the Sportmag article dedicated to the stage.
