7-7. That was the halftime score. Because, even if the Vannes residents were crushed on a maul concluded by Quentin Lespiaucq. Try converted by Ihaia West (7-0, 16'). Solid in defense in the minutes that followed, the Bretons even went to occupy the opposing 22 meters around the half-hour mark. A return to form paid off since the Argentinian Pedemonte went for his try in the 34th minute. 7-7.
-
2Thank you for the indiscipline of La Rochelle and the foot of Lafage
After a try refused at Jegou, a (new) maul punished the Vannes players whose scrum was penalized, the fault of the right pillar Santiago Medrano. Pénaltouche, throw, catch of the ball and therefore ball carried and Lespiaucq, again, flattened. 14-7 (44') after the conversion. But Vannes had not yet given up. A nice move allowed Théo Costossèque to break through in the middle. Arriving on the 22 meter line from La Rochelle, the Breton center served, with a small chistera and at height, Romaric Camou. The winger aimed for the goal but was stopped two or three meters away. After another regrouping, Michael Ruru crossed the line. Maxime Lafage was always sure of his footing (14-14, 52'). He was less so at the hour mark from forty meters, a little to the left, to allow Vannes to go ahead but in the 67th minute, this time, he made no mistake and managed to pass a penalty closer but in a closed angle. 14-17 then 14-20 with another kick from Lafage, this time on the 40 meter dotted line (69'). The Morbihan opener even added three final points to Vannes' success (14-23, 77'). The Bretons had not celebrated a victory since receiving Castres on October 26.
This trip to La Rochelle was the last Top 14 match before the start of the Bretons' European campaign. The Vannetais will be in Georgia to face the Black Lion, local franchise, in the Challenge Cup, the second European Cup. A distant trip but one that could be beneficial for the group. A victory in the frost of Tbilisi would warm up the atmosphere in the Breton locker room a little more. In this non-essential competition, Jean-Noël Spitzer could also rotate and thus rest executives and restart players with limited playing time. Enough to allow the people of Vannes to be in good shape for the resumption of the championship on Saturday December 21 and a match at La Rabine against Bayonne?
