After qualifying for the final of team one in Elite 1, the reservists thought they would join the party by qualifying too. This Saturday afternoon, in the Fobio multisports hall, we expected the same performance from team 2 of captain Alain Desnoues who hosted Toulon. The Montalbanais knew the Varois well, having played their last match of the qualifying phase in the Var (the Pandas won there by 50 to 34), confirming the victory of the first leg (34 to 18). President Nicolas Gisquet’s men should not have tripped over each other during this third and final meeting of the season between the two teams, and yet that is what happened. The start of the meeting was complicated, and it was going to continue. Toulon on a sprint from Thomas Candela (the man of the match) scored the first try, under the eyes of the president of the USM rugby supporters club Jean-Luc Leroy installed alongside Bernard Pécou in the stand. The Tarn-et-Garonnais concede a second try (12 to 0, 9th). The visitors added two tries, before Peter Vick managed to break the mark for his team (22 to 6, 25th). It must be admitted, the Pandas reserve will suffer enormously in the first half, against a Toulon which has progressed strongly in a few days, and a supersonic Thomas Candela in this match, author of four of the six visitors’ tries in the first half. time.
The difference was made
Peter Vick will score the first try of the second period, but that will not change the result. We felt like a broken spring among the players coached by Régis Thomas. The locals, however, will be level in the second period. We can deeply regret the first one where Alain Desnoues’ teammates missed out on their semi-final. Too bad for Rémi Viander who was celebrating his birthday.
And now. With the defeat in the semi-final against Toulon, the players coached by Régis Thomas stop there, and will not go to Cabestany in the Pyrénées-Orientales to accompany the pennant team which will play the final of the French championship of Elite 1.
montauban 18 – toulon 55
MT: 6-39; referees: MM. Laurent Bonnet (attack), and Laurent Abrial (defense).
Winners: 10 E Candela (4, 18, 22, 32, 40, 54), Moreau (9), L.Lartigue (29), Dechanet (57), Gaudefroy (72); 7 T Dechanet (4, 9, 18, 32, 40, 72), Moreau (57); 1 D Moreau (38).
Defeated: 3 E Vick (25, 46), Marcais (71); 3 T Denoues (25, 46, 71).
PANDAS. Philippe Toublanc, Jean-Marc Palue, Peter Vick, Wilfrid Seron, Rémi Viander, Mathieu Bonnes, Alain Denoues (cap), Baptiste Marcais. Coach : Regis Thomas; flagger: Dorian Gisquet; water bearer: Yannick Martin.
RFC TOULON PROVENCE MEDITERRANEAN. Fabien Lartigue, Romain Lartigue, Fabien Dechanet, Thomas Candela, Lisa Lartigue (cap), Mickaël Moreau, Sébastien Gaudefroy. Coach : Fabien Lartigue; flageuse: Sabine Meneut.
