Seven matches of the ninth day of Pro D2 were played this Friday evening on French lawns. Here are the lessons of the evening.
Since the start of the season, we have seen several faces of ASBH. But after the frankly disappointing, it seems that Béziers now wants to redeem itself. In any case, this is perhaps what we can learn from the humiliation inflicted by Pierre Caillet’s men in Grenoble this Friday evening (48-3). Far above the carried away Isérois, the Biterrois scored six tries including a double for the Portuguese Costa Storti.
This success allows the Biterrois to move up significantly in the ranking since the Héraultais are now eighth, only one point from the top 6. For Grenoble, everything is more worrying. The Grenoblois are in the place of the barrage and are doing a very bad job since many direct opponents have won. The reception of Valence-Romans already promises to be momentous.
This duel between Dax and Mont-de-Marsan was eagerly awaited, at the Maurice Boyau stadium. After five seasons spent in the lower echelons of French rugby, the Dacquois had the pleasure of finding their neighbors Montois at home, to show that this Landes derby was not dead. Certainly warmed by the local challenge, in the middle of a furious icy storm, Jeff Dubois’ men managed their comeback by courageously winning (26-22). As a symbol, it was thanks to the power of their forwards that the locals got through it.
After a ball-carry, it was hooker Maxime Delonca who scored the first try. Following Sau’s equalizer, it was Nephi Leatigaga’s turn to reward the work of his teammates, in force. During the last quarter of an hour, the Dacquois were still very scared against the wind, conceding two tries in quick succession. But thanks to their will, they held on. Dax recovers after three defeats in a row and moves away from the red zone. Mont-de-Marsan may have regrets and lets Provence Rugby go to the top of the rankings.
Who will stop Vannes this season? For the moment, no one has managed to bring down the Bretons but the Rouennais thought they had found the solution against the leader. Despite a try scored by Desjeux in the tenth minute of play, the RCV fell into the Norman trap. For an hour, the Normans put Jean-Noël Spitzer’s protégés in difficulty, until going in front ten minutes from the final whistle (9-7).
But this year, Francisco Gorrissen and his team have something more. At the end of his only opportunity in the second act, Vannes crossed the line to win the game. Final victory 14-9 for the visitors, who snatched their eighth success (they also drew in Béziers). For their part, Rouen took a huge blow to the head.
With very good scorers, you go far. If you still have any doubts, Soyaux-Angoulême can attest to this. Led by Ben Botica and Emmanuel Saubusse, the Angoumoisins can breathe easy this Friday, they leave the red zone thanks to four points which will count at the end of the season. Yet reduced to thirteen against fifteen at the start of the second act, the Charentais gritted their teeth to resist Nevers. The Nivernais were too imprecise to hope for better. Despite a personal exploit from Christian Ambadiang, they had to settle for a defensive bonus point acquired at the last second with a kick from Shaun Reynolds. Final success 27-23 for the locals.
It wasn’t really good weather to put a rugby player outside this Friday in Cantal. Yes, it’s a lame sentence, but it’s the best possible summary of this Aurillac-Brive. As a true derby that respects itself, the match was played… in front! Superior in commitment, the Aurillacois logically took the upper hand over Corréziens who had long been amorphous. Four minutes before the break, Aurillac scored his only try of the match, in force of course, thanks to Masterson.
Never in the game, the CAB simply saved the honor in the last seconds with a goal from Hamel. With this 23-14 victory, Roméo Gontineac’s protégés distance themselves from the last two places. Brive remains fourth.
Who would’ve believed that ? Under heavy rain, Colomiers managed to tame the elements to score 37 points in the Sapiac bowl (13-37). Much more serene in their game, Julien Sarraute’s men showed themselves to be intelligent and, above all, extremely precise. Mature, they were patient to break the Montalbanese lock. If the first period was controlled, it was during the second act that the Haut-Garonnais accelerated. Ready scored twice in five minutes to allow his team to consider the offensive bonus.
Mathy’s try temporarily took away this bonus point from Colomiers but Fepulea’i’s try changed the situation one last time. Colomiers inflicted a slap on Montauban during this derby and reassured itself by achieving a second success in a row. Montauban fell for the first time at home. The euphoria of the start of the season seems to have passed…
There was no rush, nor too many mistakes. Yes, Provence Rugby has progressed and this victory on the Valence-Romans pitch is particular proof of that. Winners 15 to 24 in Drôme, Mauricio Reggiardo’s men proved that they indeed had the shoulders of a favorite for the final phase of Pro D2. On the still undefeated pitch of VRDR, the Provençaux were able to be patient to force the decision. Denser, they also benefited from the contribution of talented players like Mathias Colombet, author of his first try for his first match under his new colors.
Taking advantage of opposing errors, Provence Rugby ultimately won rather quietly to consolidate its second place in the standings. Valence-Romans did not have the weapons and fell in the ranking while two trips are on the program for the coming weeks.