Castres Olympique Secure Preseason Victory Over Harlequins,But Face Injury Concern
castres,France – Castres Olympique concluded their preseason campaign with a confident 6-try victory over Harlequins,building on last weekS win against Montauban. Despite challenging autumn weather – a cool temperature and light rain – the Tarnais showcased significant progress and positive intent under the guidance of head coach Xavier Sadourny.
The match, played with a high tempo and strong set-piece work, highlighted Castres’ improvements in the melee, touch, kicking game (particularly from Gauthier Doubrère), and overall commitment.A standout moment came in the 20th minute when cassius Cleaves intercepted a loose ball and embarked on a 90-meter run.The try was only prevented by a resolute defensive effort from Théo Chabouni, who dispossessed the attacker, with Nathanaël Hulleu providing crucial support.”I am happy to have obtained two victories,” said Sadourny post-match. ”we always build better on successes. I find that we made a good first half, we were consistent. In the second half, we may have been a little more unruly, the game was a little more chopped. The Harlequins were not at full strength, but they still provided good opposition. We certainly know the English.”
Young Players shine
The preseason fixtures also provided a valuable possibility to integrate several young players into the castres squad. Louka Guilhot, Clément Barthes, Alfred Mouandjo, and Colin Dupuy all impressed, with Dupuy scoring his first two professional tries.
“They all held their rank,” Sadourny commented. “It’s good for the future, we will need them. Playing isn’t a gift; they’ve earned it. These matches will give them confidence, and they need to challenge the more experienced players.”
Fernandez Injury a Concern
However, the victory was tempered by an injury to veteran Jérémy fernandez, who suffered a hand injury during the match.
“That may be the bad news of the evening,” Sadourny admitted. “He will undergo tests.We hope it’s not serious.Injuries are part of the game, a combat sport, and we need to minimize them and manage them effectively.”
key Takeaways:
Castres Olympique secured a second consecutive preseason victory.
Young players like Colin Dupuy are making a strong impression.
* an injury to J
