At the opening of the 5th day of the championship, in the rain at Charles-Mathon, Oyonnax won against La Rochelle (19-17). Dominant up front, the Oyomen can also thank Miotti, author of a perfect game with 14 points in particular. To save his team’s honor, Paiva snatched a defensive bonus four minutes after the siren.
Between two teams lacking pointsdespite opposing objectives, we expected a strong duel, despite the rain, to kick off this day. In dire conditions, it was Oyonnax who knew how to better manage the elements and stopped his bad series of three losses in a row. Having missed out on its first period, La Rochelle found the resources to snatch a defensive bonus point through Paiva (19-17).
With this success, Oyonnax (11th, 8 points) passes his opponent of the day (12th, 7 points). With this third setback in a row, the O’Gara gang moves a little further away from the six while awaiting the other results of the day.
Annoyed by his severe setback in Toulon (41-7), Oyonnax jumped in with both feet. After a messed up kick-off reception by Tanga, and a foul by Picquette, Miotti allowed his team to take the score (3-0, 1st).
In delicate touch (6 balls lost in the first act), La Rochelle crumbled, and ended up, inevitably, conceding a try. On a superb first-hand launch following a scrum, Bouraux, placed inside Miotti, pierced the defensive curtain. The rear had the lucidity to look outside. Farrell made the ball live towards Sweetnam, at the wing end. The ex-Rochelais got the better of Thomas, with a superb inside hook, to conclude this action (10-0, 15th). After a new long-distance penalty from Miotti, Oyonnax held a benchmark first period (13-0, 19th).
If they corrected the situation a little with the entry of Lespiaucq, the Maritimes lacked precision and ideas in the scoring zone like this poorly negotiated maul at the end of the first period. Before that, Iribaren played safety by passing an easy penalty (13-3, 23rd). It was insufficient for the scrum half, at the break, who let out a rant at the Canal microphone + : “It’s a half to forget even though we knew what to expect. We weren’t present. We must clear our honor.”
Sclavi – Paiva, a story of pillars
During a clashy second act, where the players chained touches and scrums, the Oyomen masterfully played the game of dispossession. In this sector, Miotti was the master then he rewarded the collective work of his forwards with points (55th and 59th, 19-3).
Dissatisfied with the turn of events, O’Gara brought in fresh blood including his Globalist Joël Sclavi. In his characteristic style, the Argentinian pillar restarted the game with a full-force charge (19-10, 63rd). Effective in the game, the Pumas were however in difficulty in the scrum sector.
To regain some ascendancy, the La Rochelle staff decided to put Paiva back on the field. Good luck to them! After a penalty found by Reus, and following endless charges near the rucks, the ex-Bordelais managed to imitate his partner (19-17, 80th+5).
Next Saturday, Oyonnax will travel to the Castres pitch. At the same time, La Rochelle will host Aviron Bayonnais before welcoming Bordeaux-Bègles. The reigning European champion owes a revenge to his audience at Marcel-Deflandre.