Le SU Agen sang in the rain. The song of a third home victory in a row for the “centurion” Vincent Farré and his partners who fell between the drops against Colomiers (27-18). On this evening dedicated to “Pink October”, the Agenais soldiers could have seen life even more rosily if they had not let slip an offensive bonus that they held less than a quarter of an hour from the siren . But two tries conceded in the last ten minutes deprived them of this happiness. Despite everything, they provided the essentials in very difficult conditions against a direct candidate who came with a reshuffled team, but not without ambition.
With this fourth victory in eight days, Arnaud Duputs’ partners balance the scales by joining their evening opponent in the standings. Now 7ethey especially hang up the wagon of the top 6 (only 2 points from 3e Biarritz) before an insane triptych to complete this second block against residents of the top 6 with two consecutive trips to Grenoble (1is November, 9 p.m.) and Angoulême (November 8, 7:30 p.m.), then the reception of the current leader Montauban (Thursday November 14, 9 p.m.). A menu which could prove indigestible, but which could also make the SUA a credible candidate for the final stages.
Strong-headed Agenais
In light rain, this meeting had a match to take off. The Agenais could have won it with a superb action concluded by Ramoka, but the video referee logically refused the try for a forward between Martins and Maunder (21e). Until then, the only testing opportunity had been for the Columérins and Martins this time proved decisive by returning the flanker Caumel into the in-goal (11e). As a result, the two teams were still back to back at the half hour mark (6-6), the two scorers Pourteau and Herron not letting the opportunity pass to punish the opposing faults caused by a minimalist game with zero passes.
“Now 7th, the Agenais are catching up with the top 6 before an insane triptych to complete this second block”
Rather dominant, the Agenais offered themselves a first penalty which achieved nothing, the Columérine defense keeping watch (31e). Whatever, do it again three minutes later on the other side of the field. A way to invite the public to the players’ belote tournament this Monday evening? The penalty is further postponed (34e). But Socino plays the penalty to follow by hand for Gayraud’s strong try, propelled into the goal by the “centurion” Farré (13-6, 35e). Did you say these Agenais were stubborn? They were able to force their destiny to take the lead at the break against the Columérins who had already collected five balls in touch in forty minutes.
Soaring offensive bonus
Having emerged victorious from the ping-pong Rugby imposed by their opponents which would surely not have displeased the Lebrun brothers, the Agenais knew that their room for maneuver was still slim at the start of the second half. Jostled in a closed scrum (2 penalties conceded) and clumsy with a terribly slippery ball (5 forwards), they had nevertheless displayed the best intentions. The Columérins began their “second set” of rugby ping-pong with a 50-22 (48e), but the Agen defense was united. And when she made a mistake, it was the scorer Herron who missed the target for the first time (54e).
After letting the storm pass, the Agenais got their hands on the ball again. But the try was first refused to Searle for an advance between Garrigues and Etcheverry (56e). Then the latter committed a forward move when finishing a cross from his opener (58e). Still pushed back into the goal with numerical superiority (yellow to Lescure, 59e), the SUA finally found the opening in force twice in five minutes thanks to Lokotui after yet another scrum at 5 meters (62e) and by Jouvin following a penalty (27-6, 67e). The Agenais then had their first improved success of the season. He took off in the last ten minutes with tries from Dimcheff (71e) et Fureai (80e).
