For this round of 16 of the French Cup Lord Derby, the Léopards d’Aquitaine met the Baroudeurs de Pia on the Choisy field after a final confrontation which saw the Villeneuvois win (6-4) against the Catalan team . For the visitors, there was revenge in the air. On the Lot-et-Garonnais side, we wanted to confirm their revival which had appeared over the last few meetings. The first five minutes of play were balanced with defenses dominating both teams’ attacks.
The great performance of the Leopards
Pia passed a penalty (0-2, 5th) and the game was launched by a Villeneuvoise offensive. Aiken broke through and, after a few meters of running, dove under the posts. Moule transformed (6-2, 7th). Pia’s response was almost immediate and, after the Leopards’ defense held up, the Pianencs attack deployed to score in a corner (6-8, 13th). The back and forth continued and the Villeneuvois regained the score after a penalty from Moule and a try from Bachoukh, first to dive into the opposing goal (14-8, 35th). At the middle break, Constant Villegas’s boys held the lead, but all the supporters present at the stadium knew that their protégés’ opponent was going to react. The Catalan reaction took place upon returning from the locker room. Pia then dominated and their commitment allowed them to score a penalty and a try. The Roussillon players had just picked up (14-14, 65th). The game became captivating with the Leopards almost giving in to the onslaughts of their opponents. Pia broke her teeth on courageous “greens”, finding solutions to bring the game back to the opposing camp.
The Baroudeurs got angry and were punished by the refereeing body. Moule passed the penalty which would make the difference between the two teams (16-14, 65th). The final minutes were intense, but Wanbergue and his teammates blocked the Catalans’ last offensive attempts and maintained their slim lead until the final whistle. Superb performance from the Leopards who thus qualify for the next round of the Coupe de France.
Villeneuve 16 – Pia 14
M.-T. : 14-8, approximately 200 spectators.
Evolution of the score : 0-2, 6-2, 6-8, 8-8, 14-8 ; 14-12, 14-14, 16-14
-Winners : 2 E Aiken (7), Bachoukh (35) ; 2 T and 2 P Mold (17, 65).
Defeated : 2 E Bergal (13), Thérésin (55); 2 T and 2 P Mathé (5, 61).
VILLENEUVE : Aiken, Rouillard, Poulain, Malbec, Bachoukh, Moule, Barjou, Wambergue, Escoder, Vergniol, Revell, Gauthier, Fakir. Entrés en jeu: Zava, Giles, Kouassi, Savar, Teixiera, Beauvilliers.
PIA : Bentley, Laurent, Natoli, Bartes, Meresta (cap.), Hansan, Mathé, Chachoua, Bergal, Nofoaluma, Bonneriez, Thérésin, Miloudi. Entrés en jeu: Huescar, Marty, Tuia, Domergue, Jobe.
