Pro D2 – In this clash of the 4th day between Béziers and Provence Rugby, two serious candidates for promotion to the Top 14, it was the ability to manage weak times that made the difference. In this little game, the Biterrois were able to show themselves to be very solid to take a bonus victory at the siren 39-20 against the Provençaux and thus sign a first success at home this season. While they had 20 minutes in numerical superiority, the Aixois were not able to score a single point, quite the opposite of the ASBH who showed themselves to be very realistic and conquering for a prestigious success against one of their bêtes noires.
Know how to hurt the opponent! That’s what Mauricio Reggiardo’s Provençaux failed to do tonight against Béziers. For their part, the Béziers team had no difficulty at all when it came to pressing where it hurt the opponent. The moments spent under yellow cards were the pivotal moments of the match, those moments that sometimes transform defeats into victories and that mark a season, perhaps for the better.
Béziers makes Aix pay for its yellow card
The first turning point of the match came very quickly with the logical yellow card of Josh Tyrell in the 6th minute due to an uncontrolled clearance on Samuel Marques, the 9 Béziers. Only 5 minutes later, the Héraultais had scored two tries to lead 12-0 in the 11th minute. The sanction was immediate after the yellow with a try by Yannis Boulassel for his first start at the hooker (7th, 5-0) following the penalty touch. Similar consequence 4 minutes later on the same action with Pauta at the conclusion. Provence Rugby was caught cold. It was necessary to wait until the 20th minute of play to have a reaction from the visitors. On a broken arm after a scrum in the 22m of Béziers, the sanction was quickly played on the Aix side and Jalagonia reduced the score (12-5, 20th).
The game’s ambitions now seemed clearer for Provence Rugby, who had beaten their opponents this evening 4 times in the last 5 duels, including 2 times here at Raoul-Barrière. However, it was Béziers again who made the difference with a 5m penalty touch. The line-up, very effective this evening, once again allowed Yannis Boulassel to score his double (19-7, 26th). The debates were balanced, but Provence Rugby had difficulty creating real chances to score points.
However, Hérault’s mistakes allowed Aix to get back into the game (34th, 38th, 19-13). A 6-point deficit was not expensive for Provence, who had conceded 3 tries in the first half. So finally leading at the start of the locker room was a real hold-up. On a final opportunity, the game was reversed to the left in the Béziers 22m and Adrien Lapègue scored a great try on a skipped pass from Finau (MT, 19-20).
More information to come…
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