Aviron Bayonnais will still have to wait to achieve the first victory in its history in the Champions Cup. Despite a good first period, the Basques gave in to the attacks of the Glasgow Warriors and lost in their Jean Dauger stadium (11-12). An infuriating defeat and little consolation with this defensive bonus. Opposite, the Scots missed their game plan and left with a precious success.
The start of the match was completely to the advantage of the Warriors. They were even close to scoring a try after the 2nd minute of play, after a foot pass to Ollie Smith on the wing, but the Scottish nugget had put a foot a few centimeters into touch. The winger subsequently came off with an injury, just before half-time (39th). Glasgow had several penalties in the 22m, but the only game plan was to play by hand and take penalties, despite mixed success.
The Bayonnais took control of the match after around ten minutes. Rowing in turn settled into the opposing 22, favoring touch. Bruni thought he scored, but in turn, he was refuted by the video (13th), because the third row had rolled to the ground. In any case, the Basques were well in the match, and gaining confidence. Megdoud restarted with his hand from his goal, and with his support, went back 70 meters. Penalty, yellow for Fagerson, and Camille Lopez opened the scoring from 30 meters (3-0, 29th).
In good form, Grégory Patat’s men played off Scottish indiscipline. With a penalty at 5 meters, they took the touchline, and the maul then formed went to the end, concluded by Facundo Bosch (8-0, 34th). Short-lived joy, because after the dismissal, Lopez cleared into touch. Glasgow in attack moved away at the end of the line towards Aly Miller, the number 8 with experience in sevens rugby, who took Megdoud faster to finish in the promised land (8-7, 38th).
Rowing lacks realism
Despite a few line crossings, the Bayonnais held on. The Warriors stuck to their game plan, despite major lapses in throws on the sideline. Tough in the rucks, they conceded several penalties, and Camille Lopez increased the advantage (11-7, 50th), for a short time. On the return, the Scots obtained a scrum in the opposing 22. Whether it was the forwards or the backs, everyone attacked to defeat the Rowing defense, which went offside several times. And finally, on a long jump, Josh McKay made a spectacular dive to score a try (11-12, 57th). In panic, Rowing gave everything at the end of the match, sometimes clumsily. They had opportunities to score but Australian international Reece Hodge, coming on for his first time in the Bayonne jersey, missed two penalties of more than 50 meters (65th, 75th).
Glasgow did not kill the match, not helped by the five missed throws in twenty minutes by replacement hooker Fraser. It was also he who returned the ball to the Basques at the last minute, who moved up the entire field with ball in hand. A last stand, which set Jean Dauger on fire, quickly cooled by a victorious Scottish scratch. Rowing will regret the 8 points missed on the foot throughout the match, or even for not having attempted to drop within 22m on the last action, despite players in a good position. Learning about European matches which also involves this type of defeat.