For the round of 16 of the French Cup Lord Derby, a clash between two Super XIII teams, SO Avignon and Saint-Estève XIII Catalan, was on the menu of the day. And it is the Catalans who will continue their adventure in the Cup (18 to 54), with Avignon who completely collapsed in the second half.
The debates are fairly balanced to start the year, with Saloty Mendy physically harming the Catalans from the first impact of the match. Justin Murphy's men create danger in the Vaucluse camp, but the new Australian SOA player, Ashton Galea, keeps watch and intercepts. Following a huge run, caught by the Catalan rearguard, Avignon moved the game to Ilies Hammouch who just had to finish the job to open the scoring. And Olivier Arnaud adds the points from the transformation, (5′ 6-0).
Avignon makes a series of mistakes, and the Catalans therefore return to the opposing camp. On a good attack, Corentin Rey flattens in a corner, well offset by his center Lenny Marc, (13′ 6-4). The finisher knows this stage very well, having been trained in SOA. Following a poorly played down, the Bisons put themselves in a good position, but were unable to achieve success.
And on the Catalan side, opportunism is very present. Starting from his own twenty meters, Lenny Marc explodes the opposing defense, and by sending the ball to the back of the line, the serial scorer Léo Darrelatour opens his counter in 2025, (25′ 6-8). The more time passes, the more the Catalan influence is placed on the match. The master, Bruno Castany, thanks to his vista, sends Léo Llong in a winning interval, (32′ 6-12). And a few minutes later, this same Castany takes a yellow card, following a tackle pressed on the neck, and Salim Nahal also takes a toast for a dangerous tackle. The numerical inferiority is then played well tactically on the Avignon side with a try from Alexis Lis, transformed by Olivier Arnaud, (37′ 12-12). And just before half-time, a new yellow card was issued, for a stupid foul, for Alexis Lis on the SOA side, author of a delayed tackle in the opposing goal.
Avignon cracks in the second half
There was no need to be late in the first act. Catalan winger Corentin Rey was quickly put in an overflow position, and only had to make a classic two against one for Guillermo Aispuro-Bichet, a try transformed by the scorer, (41′ 12-18 ). Following a release from Guillermo Aispuro-Bichet, the Catalan attack set fire, and Clément Martin finished the job, transformed by Bruno Castany, (48′ 12-24).
And the Catalan back line immediately got back in front a few seconds later, with a double from Clément Martin, (50′ 12-30). And while Avignon is cracking, Lucas Tignol in force, adds a new try on the Catalan side (55′ 12-36). On a hook and a fake pass, Mateo Jimenez Lopez mystifies the entire Vaucluse defense and plants a real stab (64′ 12-42).
And to finish the job, Lucas Tignol (70′ 12-48) and Bruno Castany, (77′ 18-54), will add a new try on the Catalan side, and Yacin Atba on the Avignon side, (74′ 18-48) .
The Catalans therefore have the right to be in the quarter-finals, while the Vauclusiens' season will be very long.
