For their second row trip, the Sapiacans had little to lose and also wanted to continue after the good arrangements shown in Biarritz. A first ball stolen in touch sets the tone. The Charentais do not let it count and on their first ball go to lady (5-0, 3rd). The locals are euphoric and put intense pressure on the “green and black”. From the game, we see a lot, a lot, between two teams who seem not to want to calculate. In the meantime, SA XV is enjoying a new offensive that is working and a test by former Valencia player Agen Pierre Lafitte (12-0, 10th). No downtime and Jérôme Bosviel calms everyone by preferring the three points to the penal-key. On the rewind, the Montalbanais gradually find the defense that has worked so well in previous meetings and Soyaux-Angoulême can no longer cross the line of advantage. And the Sapiacans find colors in conquest, but ammunition which is not converted to the foot by Jérôme Bosviel (two failures back to back in good position). A boon which immediately benefits the Charentais by pocketing, already, the offensive bonus point (32nd), with the passage, Corentin Braendlin called to rest ten minutes on the sidelines. The USM suffers and is even deprived of Christopher Vaotoa, who was hit in the shoulder. At the break, the momentum is largely in favor of the locals.
The last word for the Charentais
The start of the second period is once again to the advantage of Soyaux-Angoulême but this time it does not pass… just like a new penalty from Jérôme Bosviel of 51 meters. The pace is much slower, which allows the Montalbanais to finally return to the opposing camp and Kimami Sitauti is narrowly beaten in the end by Pierre Lafitte, still him (50th). The Montalbanais, in numerical superiority following the yellow card for the third Charente line Quentin Witt, are much better in the recovery of the ball with a melee which takes a clear ascendancy on its opponent but still fish in its use, as on this penal-key in good position but lost (55th). SA XV even goes to thirteen just after the hour of play with a scrum that is being crushed. Enough to give ideas to the back lines and Kimami Sitauti, superbly launched by Jérémy Chaput, pierces the field to find Jérôme Bosviel in support (22-16, 63rd). Suddenly, hope is reborn at the USM and Soyaux-Angoulême loses its bonus and prefers three points twice to keep the USM away (28-16, 75th).
With a transformed try, the USM would return to the bonus … defensive. On the other hand, it is the Charentais who will register it in the stoppages of play on a finally effective push of their pack of forwards, archi-dominated until then.
Soyaux / Ang. 35 – Montauban 16
In Angoulême (Chanzy stadium); arbitrators: M. Julien Castaignède (Nouvelle-Aquitaine), assisted by MM. Laurent Millotte and Sylvain James.
MT: 22-9.
Winners: 4 E Coletta (3), Lafitte (10), Jones (32), Halavatau (81); 3 T Jones (10, 32), Pehau (81); 3 P Jones (24, 70, 75).
Defeated: 1 E Bosviel (63); 1 T and 3 P (14, 28, 40) Bosviel.
Score evolution: 5-0, 12-0, 12-3, 15-3, 15-6, 22-6, 22-9 / 22-16, 25-16, 28-16, 35-16.
ANGOULEME SOYAUX XV. Lafitte (Laforgue, 64); Raivono, Mau, Roger (Pehau, 68), Etcheverry; (o) Jones, (m) Nicolas (Ayestaran, 61); Witt, Lescure, Laulhe (Belzons, 64); Nabou (Roux, 61), Coletta (cap); Berthaud (Halavatau, 57), Avei (Boundjema, 68), El Jai (Vartan, 58).
Yellow cards: Witt (54), Halavatau (61).
MONTALBANAISE SPORTS UNION. Bosviel; Sitauti, Luatua (Puntous, 68), Mathy, Sayerse; (o) Silago, (m) Graou (Chaput, 48); Loubière, D.Vaotoa (Augry, 48), Munoz (cap) (D.Vaotoa, 73); Braendlin (Engelbrecht, 48, then Braendlin, 72), Sousa (Astier, 68); Ch. Vaotoa (Jourdain, 39), Deligny (Van der Westhuizen, 68), Agnesi (Tailhades, 61).
Yellow card : Braendlin (32).
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