Biarritz was held in check for around twenty minutes against Nevers before making the break and winning for the sixth time this season. With this improved victory, the Basques are now the runners-up to leader Montauban. On the other hand, the situation is becoming more complex for the Nivernais who have suffered a fourth defeat in a row away from home, synonymous with last place in the Pro D2 rankings.
The duel was close for half an hour before turning to the advantage of the men of the South-West. However, recent confrontations between these two teams suggested a close encounter. With less than 7 points difference on average in the final score, the Biarritz/Nevers duel, the thirteenth of the name, therefore suggested a balanced match although the Nivernais (13th at kick-off) were not favorites.
A lively first period
You shouldn’t arrive late at the Aguiléra stadium this evening! After a minute of play, it was the twirling Gabin Rocher who allowed Nevers to take the lead by concluding a beautiful collective movement (7 to 0, 2nd minute). Fortunately for BO fans, the Basques reacted quickly through Tukuafu who, by escaping from a penetrating group, allowed the two teams to regain an equal score (7 to 7, 7th minute). These first ten minutes of play set the tone for this fiery first act. Shortly after, the Biarrots took the advantage thanks to a goal from Matthews (12 to 7, 16th) but lost it again at the end of a turnover perfectly exploited by the visitors thanks to the legs of Walisoliso (12 to 14, 21st ).
A yellow card that changes everything
Having just scored a try, Walisoliso shot his team in the foot by receiving a yellow card for a tackle without the ball on Bonneval. Orphaned by their Fijian, the Neversois did not properly digest their numerical inferiority during which Biarritz scored two tries. The first from Acebes and the second by Kibirige (29 to 14, 34th minute). This break might not have been irremediable if, just before half-time, Gabin Rocher had achieved the feat of going all the way into the goal. Stopped at the last minute by the return of a defender, the winger failed to score twice and therefore left his team behind on the scoreboard when returning to the locker room.
A shy second half
The festival lasted only 40 minutes this evening in Aguiléra. Less enterprising, the two teams delivered a more mixed performance in the second half. Dominant in the game, Boris Bouhraoua’s players were able to do the job by scoring a fifth try in the 54th minute of play through Beheregaray (36 to 14). The pace of the game was never able to pick up again, the fault in particular of a decimated Nivernaise team on the front line which forced the referee to request the simulation of the scrums during the last quarter of an hour. In the 70th minute of play, a penalty try rewarded the efforts of the Biarrots who in the process sealed their success and the offensive bonus point (43 to 14). Although in numerical superiority during the last ten minutes (15 against 13), the BO players were unable to score again.
The BO takes the podium, the USON in the red zone
Biarritz’s good start to the season comes to fruition with this sixth success in nine matches! Here are the Basques on the second step of the podium, tied on points with leader Montauban. On the other hand, this fourth defeat in as many trips this season places Nevers in an uncomfortable position. Indeed, the results of the evening bring USON down to 16th and last place, only one point behind Nice.
Senegal
