Perpignanais Dominate Second Half to Secure Top 14 Spot in Accession Play-Off

More effective and dominating in the second half, the Perpignanais managed not without difficulty to win at the Stade des Alpes against Grenoble, Saturday evening, in the accession play-off (19-33). They scored four tries against only one conceded, of course, but the Isérois nevertheless sold their skin dearly to lead 16-11 until the 50th before cracking between the 51st and 57th. The men of David Marty and Patrick Arlettaz therefore remain in the Top 14 for the third consecutive season while Grenoble will remain in Pro D2 and will not accompany Oyonnax in the elite.

After an exciting start to the match which saw them very quickly score a try by their imposing second-line Posolo Tuilagi launched around a touch in the closed side (6th), it should be noted that the Perpignanais were then shaken by a Grenoble team ambitious. After an exchange of penalty goals between Tristan Tedder on the Catalan side and Romain Trouilloud for the Isérois, the FCG opener, Romain Barthélemy, took advantage of an inside discount at the end of a magnificent offensive movement, again, to dive in the Perpignan in-goal (36th).

A stunning second half

Against all odds, Grenoble led at the break, 16-11, against the particularly unruly Catalans but were unable to maintain their attacking pressure. In the second half, the USAP indeed regained their momentum, multiplied the advances and were able to register in force their second try by the hooker Seilala Lam on a ball carried behind penaltouch (51st). Again in the lead (16-18), the Catalans, more physically powerful, sharper, then negotiated a closed side and, after an exchange of passes, scrum half Sadek Deghmache spun off his team’s third try (57th, 16 -23).

On yet another penalty and a carried ball, the Perpignan then quickly carried the ball wide for the try of opener Jake McIntyre (65th), transformed from the sidelines by Tristan Tedder, synonymous with maintaining the Top 14 at a quarter. hour from the end of this accession barrage despite great reactions from Isère (67th, 70th, 72nd) in a sold-out stadium – 20,000 spectators – in turmoil.