Rugby: like a defeat for Decazeville against Villeneuve-sur-Lot

A draw on home soil is the equivalent of a defeat. Thus Decazeville lost two precious points, while Villeneuve-sur-Lot won them in the most logical way. Beyond the score, the game, Sporting perhaps lost more on Sunday afternoon, seeing five of its players on the mat for the next few weeks.

Five players added to the long list of injured are Luc Lafon, Albert Valentin, Gaëtan Lozano and Antoine Pisano. Not far from a complete team on the flank from the sixth minute and the exit of center Joran Vidal, with a sprained ankle. Better yet, in the space of five minutes, hooker Bastien Pons and fullback Tanguy Alaux left their partners with a strained thigh for the first and a painful shoulder for the second.

Three injured, one red and a concussion protocol

In one half there were already three players on the flank, to which were added the expulsion of Quentin Vabret (54th) on a very dangerous tackle, then the exit of pillar Quentin Guibert, on a concussion protocol reported by the delegate to the the referee while the player couldn't believe his eyes, like the whole stadium in fact. Aside from that, Sporting lacked control against a team that wanted and obtained its revenge, almost four months after a first leg won by the SCD on the final trill (25-26). Not often in the rhythm, too sanctioned in the groupings, the men of the Basin have forgotten their bases of play, those which have been their strength since the start of the season. The only real satisfaction in this dreary Rugby day for the blue and white: a conquest in touch as effective as ever.

As for the rest, the one who could come out with something truly positive would be very clever. Except for being able to save the match, even if it was the Lot-et-Garonnais who scored the penalty for sharing the points. So certainly, after a first period without effect, Decazeville thought, for a few minutes, that they had done the hard part by taking off on the scoreboard, leading 17-7.

Two tries from pillar Guibert, a few kicks passed by Alaux and Jonathan Monbroussous, but not enough to confirm, drive the point home and warn the whole group that it is always difficult to achieve a result at Camille-Guibert. Instead, the SCD left the ball to this Villeneuve team which had more desire, even if, at times, it played out of order. Anthony Julian and Etienne Rous assured him: “We’re doing well!”

And despite everything, with the benefits of this Sunday's results, Sporting is staying the course and remaining in the top three. Although it was unable to widen the gap with its pursuers, the SCD consoled itself with third place in the group before going to play at Vergt (6th), then hosting Belvès (10th). With which players? This is the question we can ask ourselves today.

And to top it all off, in this freezing atmosphere, both teams were given cold water when it came time to wash. A mini-cold shower on Camille-Guibert.