This Friday evening at Albert-Domec, the Racing Club Narbonnais gleaned a very precious success over its neighbor US Carcassonne (15-18). The first in more than ten years at the foot of the City. A victory obtained at the tip of Tom Chauvet's foot in the final seconds, at the end of a not very exciting game, reduced to a scoring duel between the two Aude clubs.
Since October 26, 2013 (13-23), Racing Club Narbonnais had never managed to achieve success on the Albert-Domec pitch. But this Friday, November 29, the orange and black achieved historic success thanks to the boot of a 24-year-old. This fifth derby in less than a year was decided on a final kick from a scorer in the last seconds. Because on this last offensive where the Narbonnais hold the ball, and where the score does not hold its winner (15-15), the referee extends his hand one last time…
This last penalty allows Tom Chauvet to give victory to his team. And he won't be asked to send the ball into the middle of the poles (15-18). The people of Narbonne exult as one man. Paul Belzons and his teammates immediately headed towards their supporters gathered in large numbers in the Canal du Midi stand. When on the other hand, Domec is extinct, like the disillusioned Carcassonnais players, their heads down.
A goal-scoring duel lasting 80 minutes
And the 8,074 (!) spectators, a record for a derby at Domec since last season, must not have really enjoyed themselves for 80 minutes. To say that this fifth derby in less than a year was decided only by a duel of scorers is an understatement. But looking at the scoreboard, this is the reality of this poster between US Carcassonne and Racing Club Narbonnais. Because unlike this pyrotechnic device at the edge of the pitch, which caught fire at the hour mark, on the pitch there was no fire. No try was scored in 80 minutes. Gilles Bosch (12 points and a failure) and Tom Chauvet (6 points) in Narbonne, and Johnny McPhillips (15 points and a failure) alone filled the scoreboard.
If there were no real flights or tries, this derby nonetheless remained a tough match. A meeting as we like it, head-to-head combat, ground-shaking collisions, defenses taking precedence over attacks. However, after a controlled start to the match from Racing (3-9, 19th), Pierre-Hugo Ducom had the possibility of going to queen. But on this Narbonnais school combination, the winger chooses to return inside and takes the Carcassonne defense on the rocks.
But Carcassonne's indiscipline gave Narbonne too much ammunition. Above all, the cards against USC allowed Racing to play many minutes in numerical superiority. Clément Egiziano and Raphaël Carbou received a yellow, when Romain Manchia, for his return to competition, saw himself taken out on a red for a dangerous tackle on Erwan Nicolas. And yet, Carcassonne was very close to remaining master of the derby at home.
Racing in the Top 2, Carcassonne six points behind
But after 80 minutes, it was Racing Club Narbonnais who won. By one breath, but even by three points, victory counts. And this counts double for orange and black. Because in addition to demoting US Carcassonne to six points behind, especially – before the Chambéry match this Saturday against Langon (5:30 p.m.) – Julien Seron's men temporarily climb to second in the standings.
For Carcassonne, the rest of the season will be under the orders of Bernard Goutta – present at Domec this Friday evening before taking up his post at the start of next week – and with a trip to Suresnes.
For Racing, this delicate block with three movements (in Langon next Saturday, and in Suresnes on December 14) begins in an enchanting manner with this success in the derby (15-18). Victory at the feet of its scorers.
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