At the opening of this 12th day of Fédérale 2, Bourges XV hosted Le Creusot, this Saturday afternoon, on the synthetic lawn of Jean-Brivot.
Eager to take their revenge after the defeat of the first leg, the Berruyers quickly opened the scoring with a penalty from Vivien Fesser (3-0, 10th). However, it was Le Creusot who took the lead in the rain, in the first half, thanks to their forwards. Following a penetrating group which progressed over twenty meters, Jonathan Finau scored the first try of the game (3-7, 19th).
Deploring two injuries (Bourdariat and Noizat), the BXV was forced to reorganize its three-quarter line during the first period. The white card inflicted on Ivan Robin did not help his affairs. But the Berruyers did rather well when they returned to the locker room only trailing 3 to 10, because the Creusotins wasted two balls in touch in the opposing 22 meters.
Bourges believed in it
In the second half, Bourges regained color under the leadership of the new arrivals (Visagie, Holisi…). On the Creusot side, Martin Galletier, not successful at the foot until then, missed the opportunity to widen the gap.
The game was restarted with a superb try from Berruyer scrum half, Jules Faure. Following a ruck, he escaped like a trickster, kicked over the last defender, then made the difference in the race to flatten (8-10, 65th). A few moments later, a penalty from Fesser allowed Bourges to get back in front (11-10, 69th).
The end of the match was punctuated by a big fight which sent three players to the locker room (two red, one yellow). On the last action in the middle of the field, Ionut Bratu tackled a Creusot player who did not have the ball. Martin Galletier tried his luck under the bronca of the Brivot public. His ball flew between the poles to offer a victory of character to the Creusotins (11-13).
The technical sheet
Bourges (Jean-Brivot stadium)
Bourges XV – Le Creusot: 11-13. Halftime: 3-10. Referee: Mr. Serouart.
The points: For Bourges: 1 try from Faure (65th), 2 penalties from Fesser (10th, 69th).
For Le Creusot: 1 try from Finau (19th), 2 penalties from Catinot (23rd) and Galletier (80th) and 1 conversion from Catinot.
Temporary exclusions: in Bourges: Robin (35th), Putuma (79th); at Le Creusot: Mansour (50th).
Permanent exclusions: in Bourges: Holisi (79th); at Le Creusot: Bouchery (79th).
Bourges: Souyri ; Noizat, Bourdariat, Bourdin, Legros ; Fesser (o), Hendricks (m, head) ; Canivet, Gaury, Touleron ; Croisy, Robin ; Demeuzoy, Compin, Schirck. Entered: Visagie, Bratu, Putuma, Holisi, Cataldi, Faure, Pasques.
Le Creuset: Galletier ; Delecolle Lagrange, Colin, Mansour, Brachet ; K. Catinot (o), Dechaume (m) ; Paulet, Finau, Dubois (cap.) ; Kiknadze, Guillet ; Charles, Nunnery, Knight. Entered: Prevel, Bouchery, Gereau, Perraudin, Chavet, Terrier, Afonso.
Reserves: Bourges XV – Le Creusot: 60-0.
