AS Layrac 19 – Gujan-Mestras 20
Lieu Layrac (José-Pénétro stadium). Spectators 600 environ. Arbitrator Mr. Sébastien Eyrolles (Nouvelle-Aquitaine). Half time 13-10.
AS LAYRAC 1 try from Cuquel (29th); 1 conversion (29th) and 4 penalties (21st, 34th, 56th, 69th) from Decottignies.
The team: Decottignies – Makaafi, Cuquel, Brethous, Da Silva – (o) Tesquet, (m) Viviez – Ompraret (cap.), Hahn, Boué – U. Afatia, Bastien – Joly, Purnot, V. Afatia. Sont entrés en jeu: Ben Hadj Khalifa, Pajany, Imanov, Raffanel, Thillard, Péré, Lucy, Fihaki.
Yellow card: Imanov (82e).
GUJAN-MESTRAS 2 tries from Combres (38th), Gagnac (47th); 2 conversions (38th, 47th) and 2 penalties (35th, 80th + 2) from Souleyreau.
The team: Combres – Verriest, Gagnac, Tarrozzi, Callet – (o) Souleyreau (cap.), (m) Dos Santos – Dupuys, Recher, Ladaurade – Clinquart, Labouchere – Bergougne, Andreo, Drouhaut. They came into play: Kasala, Perchirin, Chinour, Dossière, Ruiz, Guichard, Wacokecoke.
LThe Layracais Espoirs showed the way with a 39-14 victory. The sun had come out, all that remained was to end the day with a victory for the pennant team before spending the holidays in the warmth. The Gujan-Mestras Basin team did not come as tourists for this first return match. The start was sluggish on the part of both teams between exchanges at the foot, touches not found or throws not straight, we didn’t really get into this match. AS Layrac began to accelerate by playing around the rucks, either through the forwards or through a few three-quarter throws. The awakening of the Gujanais will be led by Dos Santos around his pack, then by the first breakthrough of the man of the match Gagnac.
However, the first dangerous action came from Makaafi, underserved, who after three hooks served Hahn who failed a few meters from the try line. The blue scrum, like the previous Sunday, had difficulty maintaining its support at times, but it was after a big advance that Decottignies scored the first 3 points. Gujan tried to play from 25 meters without succeeding. The local domination was to be materialized when, on a quickly opened touch, Brethous fixed the defense to serve Cuquel launched who broke two tackles and sprinted for a hopeful try. Especially since Decottignies added a penalty, which brought the score to 13-0.
A final fatal counter
Gujan-Mestras did not give up and Souleyreau, the captain, opened the scoring. A big Gujanaise period followed which included many actions, it is their trademark. Initially, Layrac held on, before breaking down just before half-time following an acceleration from Combres. The visitors had tired the Layracais and came back to 3 points in a half in which they had nevertheless been dominated (13-10). Gujan understood that their salvation would come from outside and was going to relaunch the too numerous balloons returned by the Layracais. They took the lead after a super mano a mano between Recher and Gagnac, the latter being at the conclusion (13-17, 48e).
There was no question for the locals losing further points at home and it was with a school ball that the wake-up call was rung. The decision was to insist in front while an easy penalty could pass. Choice not paid. The ball was regained from scrum and the coaches left their team with no other solution: 3 points to get back to a small point. Bastien, Vili Afatia then Imanov multiplied the “thick” charges. The fronts of Gujan’s Barbots broke, but did not bend. ASL dominated, but Gujan was scary with each restart. There was desire and valor on both sides, it was Layrac who took the lead ten minutes from the end with a penalty cementing their superiority.
But they did not kill the match and what had to happen happened: during yet another attack after the ball was returned, Gagnac managed to get past the defense and after a 40-meter run, he did not score. The supporters obtained a penalty, that of winning in stoppage time.
Reactions
Jonathan Brethous (three-quarter center of Layrac): “One more match within our reach, we lose it on our own. I am disappointed that in front of this audience, our families, we cannot put together the ingredients to win. You have to question yourself to convey the values of this club again. »
Fabien Souleyreau (opener and captain of Gujan-Mestras): “It was a tough match. I am proud of the pack of forwards who responded against this big Layrac team, very physical. We scored two good tries. It’s all good for us! »
