Pro D2 – Béziers improves against Agen and continues its great series of victories

40 years after their last coronation in the elite of French rugby, Béziers wanted to celebrate this last title by beating an Agen team looking for confidence. This is good, since the Héraultais then won the title against… Agen in 1984 (21-21, victory on penalties).

So, facing a team which had not won in Hérault since 2004, the series had to continue for the Biterrois. If Franck Pourteau scores the first three points for the Lot-et-Garonnais club, Béziers can always count on his handyman, Gabin Lorre. The full-back, initially a scorer, then turned into a try scorer after Charly Malié's beautiful jump pass (8-3, 17').

Faced with the indiscipline of Béziers, Agen does not take advantage of it

Penalties pile up on the Hérault side, and Franck Pourteau, impeccable on his feet, allows the SUA to regain the advantage after several penalties passed (8-12, 29'). And things are not going to get better for Pierre Caillet's men, reduced to 14 after the yellow card against Nicolas Plazy for accumulation of fouls.

In numerical superiority, Agen retreats and is no longer able to play in the Béziers half of the field. Faced with the inactivity of Sébastien Calvet's players, Béziers accelerates and Charly Malié serves Taylor Gontineac, well helped by the rebound, to then go for the try (15-12, 39').

It is finally at 15 against 15 that the Lot-et-Garonnais will end up moving forward again. Despite the rescue on his line from Wilmar Arnoldi, Hans Lombard-Buret, well accompanied by Julien Lebian, came to score the try powerfully and allow the visitors to return to the locker room in front of the scoreboard (15-17, 40 + 3').

Also read: relive the improved Béziers success against Agen in live conditions

In three minutes, Béziers reverses the situation

If the return to the locker room is fairly balanced and neither team manages to score points, the score will quickly change after the first waves of changes. Clément Doumenc, who came on in the 52nd minute, plays one of his first balls to serve Shahn Eru after contact. The second line goes on trial and the Biterrois take the score back into their own hands (22-17, 55').

It is this same Clément Doumenc who, two minutes later, breaks a tackle to find Pierre Courtaud at his side. The shift is made and the winger finds Baptiste Abescat at the end of the line, who wins his duel against Peyo Muscarditz to flatten the Héraultais' fourth try (27-17, 57'). Béziers then has a ten-point lead, and the offensive bonus point in his pocket.

A little scare to end the meeting

Béziers continues against an overwhelmed Agen team, and Pierre Courtaud, passer on the previous try, is then at the conclusion of a beautiful movement led by Charly Malié (34-17, 69').

If everything seems to be going well for ASBH, Agen has a little burst of pride after Paul Recor's intercepted pass for Pierre Courtaud. Lucas Martins, well positioned, dives into the goal and allows the Lot-et-Garonnais to believe in a possible comeback (34-24, 72'). With five tries to two and above all only ten points behind, the visitors can hope for the defensive bonus and even more by scoring twice.

But the last opportunities will be for the Héraultais, and the last ball dropped forward by Matthieu Bonnet will seal the fate of this game. The Biterrois continued with a fourth success in a row, and above all won the five important points for the race for the top 6.

Thanks to this new victory, Pierre Caillet's men climb to fourth place and are now six points ahead of Soyaux-Angoulême, seventh. The Biterrois thus gain maximum confidence before going to challenge another contender for the top 6, Brive, in Corrèze next Friday.

For its part, Agen continued its bad patch and signed a fourth setback in a row. Twelfth with two points ahead of the red zone, Sébastien Calvet's players will have to quickly raise their heads next Friday before receiving Oyonnax, fourteenth and also in great difficulty at the start of the season.