Top 14 – Against Toulouse, Aviron Bayonnais achieves its four in a row

One last match before a well-deserved break. A final effort to make for the Bayonnais to conclude an incredible end of the first block which allowed them to return to the forefront and escape from the hell that was promised to them. A final meeting contested with energy to snag another big one in his hunt and sign a fourth success in a row. This is not anecdotal for Rowing which had not recorded four consecutive victories for more than five years. We had to go back to October 12, 2019 to find traces of such a series in favor of the Basques (Castres, La Rochelle, Agen, Montpellier). This time it was necessary to bring down the reigning champion to Jean-Dauger to once again enjoy a magnificent four in a row.

A bitter, tense, often head-on match where the salvation of Gregory Patat's men could only come through collective sacrifice at all times to resist Toulouse domination, whether in terms of possession or territory, and to be satisfied with a few crumbs to hope to win. To build on the confidence accumulated in recent weeks, the Bayonnais could count on their three-quarter center Sireli Maqala taking advantage of a wayward ball on a judicious follow-up kick to slip into the goal after sixteen minutes of play. On the other hand, the Ciel et Blanc did not manage to materialize their second try opportunity just before the break on a succession of unsuccessful penalties despite a beautiful balancing act from Xan Mousques to flatten in the corner, but the video refereeing was good cruel, detecting a slight forward on the previous ruck.

Maqala's double

The Bayonnais then had to continue their colossal work in the defensive sector to thwart the Toulouse machine, with a monstrous slaughter from Baptiste Héguy quickly coming into play to replace Arthur Iturria injured in a shoulder (7th) but also well helped by the capital performance of Baptiste Chouzenoux notably on touch to steal some important balls. Opportunities to score points again became increasingly rare, if not non-existent, before the 71st minute. Sireli Maqala was stopped five meters from the promised land. And the Bayonnais were punished three minutes later. Toulouse took the lead on the scoreboard for the first time in the match in the 74th minute. But Sireli Maqala is definitely the Rowing could savor this courageous victory.