The Gaudermen of the USAP – Catalan Country selection made short work of the young Toulouse in the final of the French championship and logically won 38-22.
Come on Catalans, the day of glory has arrived. What joy for the blood and gold this Saturday at the Pierre-Balussou stadium in Pamiers. In a Dantesque final against formidable players from Stade Toulousain, the men of the Berget-Guiraud-Delos trio managed to put out a masterful performance to win and lift the “planxot”.
However, the affair was off to a bad start for the young Usapists. Thanks to a try from the third wing line and captain Maka from the 3e minute, it is the Haut-Garonnais who impose their rhythm from the kick-off. However, a little over a quarter of an hour later, it was Miso who gave hope to this Catalan Country gathering with a perfectly well-constructed attempt at the end. The debates are balanced as half-time arrives. But, like a good captain, Jules Duvivier scored a powerful try 3 minutes from the 3 shots that Mathieu Balaguer was quick to convert. At the break, the Roussillonnais lead by 2 points, 12-10.
An anthology second half
Upon returning from the locker room, the Toulouse team started on the same basis as during the first act. Captain Maka signs his double with a sharp run. The Catalans took a blow to the head. But that was without counting on the self-sacrifice of the players and the ever-increasing support of the public who came in large numbers. In the red and black camp, the blood and gold benefit from a scrum. Thanks to an unreal effort from its pack, USAP completely overturned the scrum at Stade Toulousain. Galvanized, the young Catalans are in a trance and can’t stop. Fabiau, Duvivier, Rosellini and finally Balaguer inflicted 26 points on the Stadistes in less than 16 minutes.
Despite a try conceded in the last moments, the Perpignan staff know it, the shield is theirs and are already starting to celebrate on the bench. When the 3 shots of the referee ring out, it’s deliverance. An explosion of joy which will probably remain forever engraved in the memories of these young hopes of Catalan rugby.
“It’s extraordinary what the boys have just done. It’s the result of all the work they put in throughout the year,” summarizes the young second row Gaël Senseby, in tears, at the end of the match. His trainer Cédric Berget continues: “The turning point of the match is this scrum. Behind, the group puts in a perfect performance. I take my hat off to them, they are brilliant kids.”
