Second defeat in a row for Toulouse which loses to Castres

Stade Toulousain showed more control and realism in the first half of this college derby at Castres Olympique. The reigning French champions scored two tries before the break, compared to just one for their opponents who were not completely overwhelmed, bringing the score to 11-20 at half-time.

The Tarnais visibly came back with better intentions in the second half and in the 49th minute, they scored a try which restarted the game (16-20). A few minutes later, a big mistake from Toulouse by Kinghorn who committed a forward attack by recovering a penalty ball from Le Brun which was passing under the bar. Castres will put pressure in front of the Toulouse goal with their scrum.

Castres goes ahead

This highlight of the Tarnais will materialize with a new try, signed Le Brun, which allows the CO to take the lead (25-20). The Tarn striker then passes a penalty which puts the Toulouse team more than one try away with a quarter of an hour remaining in the match. Things are going much better for the CO, and for Toulouse, ten minutes from the end, the situation is not really improving with a yellow against Aldegheri, penalized in scrum.

Toulouse still got the bonus just over a minute from the end with Ramos scoring his team’s first points in the second period (28-23). The Toulouse have the ball in the last minute of the match, and gradually move up the field. Can they go for victory? No, because Costes commits a forward within 22m. Castres won 28 to 23 and Stade Toulousain suffered a second defeat in a row in this Top 14, with a defensive bonus point at stake.