Union Bordeaux-Bègles struck a major blow in the race for qualification by winning with the offensive bonus (34-14) against Stade Rochelais this Saturday evening in Chaban-Delmas.
The UBB, which remained on four consecutive losses at home against the Rochelais, dominated this clash head and shoulders, scoring six tries against only two for its usual bête noire.
This success allows UBB to move into third place in the ranking. The Rochelais remain in 6th place but they are under threat from the Palois.
The match was for a long time as expected. Bitter, with very little space left for attacks and a furious battle in the rucks where the Rochelais upset Yannick Bru’s players.
More enterprising, the UBB opened the scoring with a try from its left pillar Hugo Boniface (22e) then she quickly widened the gap by Yoram Moefana offset by Damian Penaud (12-0 in the 26the).But the Rochelais came back a little against the flow of play thanks to a try from Thomas Berjon (31ste) after an interception by Dyllin Leyds.
Report of failure for the Rochelais
This test boosted Greg Alldritt and his comrades who appeared threatening in the wake of Will Skelton. But after stopping the Rochelais five meters from their line, the Bordelo-Béglais struck on the counter after a penalty quickly played by Damian Penaud and a restart concluded 100 meters further by Louis Bielle-Biarrey (19-7 at the 40e).
UBB negotiated the start of the second half perfectly with a fourth try signed by Tevita Tatafu. She accentuated her hold and Maxime Lamothe after a long sequence, rewarded the domination of his team (29-7 in the 51ste). In an evening where nothing pleased them – injuries to Levani Botia and Jonathan Danty – the Rochelais conceded a sixth try scored by Penaud under the nose of Greg Alldritt. Antoine Hastoy reduced the score without mitigating the failure for the Rochelais.