the Niort RC lost the thread at Graulhet

Graulhet: 16
Niort: 13

Few people, Saturday December 21, near Noël-Pélissou, historic ground of the venerable “Sporting”, to attend this calendar updating session. Few people, but nevertheless a very palpable challenge, especially among the Tarnais in the tough rankings.

Which, as luck would have it, are the first to take action. And this, in the wake of a pack likely to fit into the most local tradition, particularly in closed scrums.

Several fouls were called against Niort, so much so that the middle of the first act took place outnumbered. Paradoxically, the Deux-Sévriens, perhaps stung, are starting to show a better face. Ozzy Champs equalizes on his first attempt (3-3).

Niort RC plays to win until the end

A few minutes later, even though its rival had regained the advantage, the beautiful machine started up again, exactly as at the start of the season. The advantage rule delights Buch who benefits from the very good work of undermining his teammates in charge of the advance in the form of “pick and go”: 10-6, then 13-6, Sanchez having on his round adjusted the target in added time.

But more is needed to extinguish the lights of the red lantern! And now the residents of Dadou are moving forward again, after the break.

Logically, a first try that looks like a turning point in the match is scored. Yet delicate transformation in the right corner to follow 13-13). And to settle back, transcended by their success, in control, Tom Richard continuing his flawless performance on the shooting range: 16-13, a score which will no longer change.

Niort nevertheless had the opportunity to restore the perfect balance, but between the two points of a possible draw and a simple defensive bonus, the gap was not significant enough. A ball kicked into touch therefore, knowing that this quit or double will ultimately prove unsuccessful. Feeling the outlines of the exploit taking shape all the more as the end approaches, Graulhet closes ranks and obtains the penalty of deliverance.

In the end, a scenario quite close to the previous ones in favor of the defeated, as if the coin refused to land on the right side as had been the case at the expense of Anglet.

The sheet

Half time: 6-13
Referee: M. Vals

Graulhet: 1E, Host (56^e; 3P(11^e31^e63^e)  ; 1T Richard (57e)
For Niort: 1E, book (36^e) ; 2P, Champs (23^e), Sanchez (40^e) ; 1T, Sanchez (36^e)
Yellow cards: in Graulhet, Santamarina (39^e) ; in Niort, Sanchez (13^e), Aouadi (50^e)

Graulhet: Santamarina – Desplan, Layglon, Twum-Boafo, Martin – (o) Richard, (m) Doyle (Conio, 66^e) – Vert, Durand (Mara, 54^e), Gilbert – Bourgine (Nel, 77^e), Nel (Masanet, 60^e) – Ferrier (Berdouzi, 66^e), Marotel (Régnier, 64^e), Escur (cap) (Chanet, 41^e).Niort: Sanchez – Marsan, Lavaux, Buch, Benard (Kumbirai, 51^e) – (o) Champs (Strong, 60^e), (m) Barbarit Guidani (Duprat, 67^e) – Alligner (Goufan, 57^e), Nieto, Tixier – Le Roux (Himmer, 55^e), Baudin (cap) – Pray (Aouadi, 47^e), Gimenez (Chabeaudie, 47^e), Erasmus (Bougerol, 47^e).

Hot

Johann Authier (manager of Niort RC): “We are still on AC, the first half is good, but not the second. It's a big disappointment, because the desire disappears. The substitutes contributed nothing. We don’t deserve to win.”

Frédéric Manca (coach of Graulhet): “Let's remain humble, this is just one more step on the path to maintaining and believe me, the road will be long. This evening, we missed our start because we watched too much this great Niort team. Then, things got better, the trend reversed. These four points will do us good, it encourages optimism. »