For this last day of the year in Pro D2, Oyonnax won against Montauban, signing with both hands his return to form. At the same time, Soyaux-Angoulême improved against Nevers after an incredible second half. Discover the lessons from this fifteenth day of Pro D2!
Player of the evening: Wilfried Hulleu wandered around Nice
In the third minute, the Grenoble winger broke the Nice defensive curtain before, a few seconds later, the FCG scored its first try of the evening. A first feat which called for others from Wilfried Hulleu. On the Côte d'Azur, the Isérois wandered, hair blowing in the wind, in the opposing defense. Untenable with the ball in hand, it was he who finished under the Riviera posts shortly before the half-hour mark to put his team back in front. The performance was already majuscule in forty short minutes. Hulleu didn't stop there since in the 62nd minute, he flattened in a corner to score his eighth try of the season. Grenoble can thank its player, who set the Marcel-Volot stadium on fire during the improved success of the FCG (49-18).
Confirmation of the evening: Oyonnax is indeed back
The Oyonnaxiens will therefore have waited for their last outing in 2024 to sign their first success of the season away from Ain. A week after their improved success against SAXV, the Aindinois confirmed their renewed confidence in Tarn-et-Garonne. Authors of a good start to the match, Joe El Abd's men did not succeed in breaking away from the Montalbanais. Back to back at the break (20-20), the two teams remained neck and neck for a long time. It was a penalty in the 78th minute from Zack Holmes, excellent this Friday evening, which offered victory to those who were still in the Top 14 last season. As a symbol, Oyonnax defended its small advantage by defending for three minutes on the last action. “Oyo” can blow. A final victory with a score of 33-30 for a relieved club. For its part, USM has a fourth defeat in a row.
The test of the evening: Dax enjoys… but has to settle for one point
The Dacquois clearly scored the try of the evening. Always as attractive with ball in hand, the Landais started from their 22 meters just before the quarter of an hour of play. The ball arrived in the hands of winger Miranda, who set fire to his left wing. After advancing fifty meters, the Portuguese played behind him. A fixation point later, and the ball went down the right lane with Oltmann as the main player. The latter moved back inside, won his duel before putting his arms out for Lemalu. The number eight of the USD offered a race of around fifteen meters to go flattened under the posts. A simply magnificent 80 meter attempt. This collective feat did not allow Jeff Dubois' protégés to win in Cantal. 27-22 victory for Aurillac.
Icon Sport – Scoop Dyga
The counter performance of the evening: Béziers eaten in 10 minutes despite Lorre
We can no longer talk about the ASBH without talking about him. Even in defeat Gabin Lorre still acted up on the Mont de Marsan pitch. First at the conclusion of a good movement by his team in the first half, then on a ball dropped by the Montois which he recovered before finishing his race in the goal.
That being said, the Biterrois were overtaken by the offensives of Landais in great form like Raphael Robic author of a try but also of two crossings. If the two teams were in a tight spot for a large part of the first period, Mont de Marsan pulled away over ten minutes straddling the two periods. A guilty slump for the Biterrois who saw their opponents go from 16-13 to 37-13. A delay which would never be recovered despite an extremely open end to the match (47-32).
Halftime of the evening: 28-0 for Soyaux after the break
For a time, evil spirits were believed to be teasing the Angoumoisins and Chanzy. When Alexandre Ruiz's men returned to the locker room, trailing 10 to 7 by Nevers, the supporters could shake.
But the bad memories from the start of the season remained only relics and Soyaux came back from the lemons with many other ideas. While they only scored one try in the first half, the Angoumoisins scored no less than four in the second. Above all, they no longer conceded the slightest point. A second act mastered from start to finish synonymous with an improved victory (35-10) and above all good operations of the evening for the Charentais who will end the year in the top 6.
The regret of the evening: Aix without bonus
Everything seemed to be going perfectly for Mauricio Regiardo's troops. Largely in the lead after 40 minutes (31-12), Aix had only one more try to score after the break to confirm their success and pocket, as a bonus, the offensive bonus.
It was nothing! If the Drômois did everything to come back, it was especially the Provenciaux who got their feet stuck in Maurice-David's lawn. Although they were still 12 points ahead, Jimmy Gopperth's teammates let their scorer take the points while the bonus was still within sight. These would ultimately be the only points scored by the locals in the second half. The victory would not slip away (34-24), the opportunity to spend the holidays on the podium would.
Icon Sport – Alexandre Dimou
The artists of the evening: the rear to entertain Colomiers
Faced with solid Biarrots who came to Colomiers to recover the five points they lost at the start of the week, they needed a hell of an opposition. The Columérins did not miss each other (29-20). Obviously ahead where they knew how to respond perfectly to the Basque pack of Masivesi Dakuwaqa. But it was above all the will-o'-the-wisps of the Colomiers rearguard who had a blast on Michel-Bendichou's pitch.
Ugo Pacome, Rodrigo Marta and Joaquin De La Vega all scored a try. Although they didn't score, the two wingers Alonso-Munoz and Vincent Pinto also had fun, piercing the BO defense on several occasions… The Colomiers backs gave themselves a nice Christmas present!
