Regional Promotion 3: RC Béarnais – Landes Océan, a two-step waltz

This Sunday, November 24, in pool 5 of Regional Promotion 3 Nouvelle Aquitaine (newly created division), the Rugby Club Béarnais hosted the Landes Océan Rugby Club for a duel at the top of the table. These two teams undergoing reconstruction have indeed had a successful start to the season. RCB, the result of a merger between Puyoô, Salies-de-Béarn and Sauveterre-de-Béarn, began its year with a series of four consecutive victories, before conceding its first defeat, two weeks ago, on the Parentis pitch (25-16). Opposite, LORC, which played one more match, presented itself with a capital of four successes and a draw for only one setback (against Ciboure 13-29). Report of this summit meeting… (By Loulou / Photos Jean-Marc Lestage).

The match

On its Al Cartero pitch in Salies-de-Béarn, RCB is off to a flying start. The locals scored two tries in the first quarter of an hour, by their hooker Guillaume Arbide Vignarte (6th), then by their left pillar Emmanuel Dubois (12-0, 14th). The first line of the Vert et Bleu is in the spotlight in this start.

But immediately, the LORC reacted. Jules Descamps, arrived during the off-season from the Côte Landes Rugby Associationreduced the score by planting his team's first try (12-5, 19th). Determined to get back on the path to victory, the Rugby Club Béarnais nevertheless regained some fresh air ten minutes later by crossing the opposing goal again. Fullback Steven Tastet stands out and Romain Martocq transforms (19-7, 30th).

Just before the break, the visitors, once again in reaction, managed to get back on the heels of RCB, thanks to Pierre Brassenx who escaped the vigilance of the Béarnaise defense. Raphael Descamps adds two points against the poles and brings LORC to 7 lengths at half-time (19-12).

The RCB unfolds, the LORC sinks

After a tense and indecisive first period, the locals then took the lead. In the space of twenty minutes, Jérôme Gasparotto's men literally folded the match by scoring four tries consecutively. With their foot on the accelerator, the Béarnais no longer have anyone in the rearview mirror. Added to the list of scorers: Paul Brethes (42nd), Lucas Tastet twice (50th, 58th), then Steven Tastet, who also signs his double (62nd) so as not to make anyone jealous among the siblings.

All enhanced by a penalty (48th), as well as three transformations and here RCB is safe with a virtual offensive bonus in their pocket at the hour of play (48-12, 62nd). A fatal weak time for LORC, which, in a last stand, managed to reduce this somewhat salty score with a try from Raphael Descamps (48-19, 70th). But until the end, the locals have the last word. Enzo Denier Tari flattens the 8th attempt of the Béarnaise Entente to complete a large victory: 53-19 the final score.

Thanks to a much more substantial bench, RCB takes the scalp of Landes Océan Rugby Club. By taking the upper hand in the second half, the Béarnais logically found their way to success. An improved victory which allows them to settle in first place in the ranking (1st, 24 points). To confirm this performance, they will travel next Sunday to the field of RC Lonsois (6th, 10 points).

For day visitors, it is a disillusionment. Still in the match at the break, the LORC then completely collapsed, reminding us of the extent to which the famous finishers weigh on a rugby match. Accounting, the Landais still remain clinging to the first car (2nd, 20 points, tied with Ciboure and Parentis, but with a match in advance). Next week, they will host US Saultoise (5th, 18 points), also very close to the leading locomotive. So there really is no room for error in this very tight championship…

The match sheet

In Salies-de-Béarn (Al Cartero stadium), Rugby Club Béarnais beats Landes Océan Rugby Club 53 to 19 (19-12 half-time)

For RCB: 8 tries by Arbide Vignarte (6th), Dubois (14th), S.Tastet (30th, 62nd), Brethes (43rd), L.Testet (50th and 58th) and Denier Tari (77th); 1 penalty by Martocq (48th) and 5 transformations by Martocq (6th, 30th, 42nd, 58th) and by L.Tastet (62nd).

For the LORC: 3 tries by J.Descamps (19th) and R.Descamps (73rd) and Brassenx (40th); 2 transformations by R.Descamps (40th and 73rd).

Composition RCB :

RCB coaches: Didier Lannes, Jérôme Gasparotto and Sébastien Cuyolla

Composition LORC :

LORC trainer: Christophe Lebert

The reactions

RCB coach Jerome Gasparotto: “We have had a decent start to the season with a young team. We had good matches, apart from a misstep at Parentis. Today was a successful meeting offensively and defensively, despite sometimes a lack of continuity. We are rebuilding a group, because you should know that last year we did not have a team.

Unlike the match at Parentis, the forwards put up a fight and that allowed us to have clean balls. At the back, three quarters tried things and played hard. The players are a little fiery, we have to channel them, but overall, we are moving forward, we are leaders and I hope that we will manage to maintain this place until the end of the year. With all the staff, we are satisfied. »

Lucas Testet, center du RCB : “After a great series of victories, we were pushed around two weeks ago at Parentis, which showed us that we were not necessarily the leader of the championship. We once again came across a great LORC team today. The result was conclusive thanks in particular to a strong defense on our part. Pride made the difference, we wanted to react after the defeat and we wanted to start off on a good basis. The two good weeks of work resulted in a great victory at home. »

Christophe Lebert, LORC coach: “We rebuilt a club which was a little in agony. We are progressing well, it’s daily work. We are satisfied with our ranking. We knew that coming here, it was a test against a team at the top of the table which would allow us to position ourselves. We came with a shallow squad on the bench and we paid for it. Nothing to say about the final score, we still managed to score points on a few balls that we managed to hold, we will remember this positive side. For the rest, we will work. »

Jules Descamps, LORC hooker: “We managed to hold out for a half against a great RCB team. But we were then put in difficulty by this formation which affects the exteriors quite quickly. I also think they had more bench depth, that made the difference in the second.

We have come a long way, last year was very complicated, but we are managing to get some good momentum going again. We're going to hang on, we're going to try to stay in touch with these first three places. We try to instill this DNA, to never let go, to continue to exist. So, we'll see you at the end of the season. »