After ending a dark series of four defeats in a row last week against Oyonnax, the SUA had the opportunity to continue with another reception in Armandie for the 14th day against the Aurillacois who were right on their heels in the rankings. Between a decisive match for the SUA and a match with “only” one shot to play for the SACA, the former had less room to make mistakes and this was seen with a strong desire to produce play for almost 80 minutes . The Agen group never loosened their grip and put the Stade Aurillacois under water for a new Cantal defeat at Alfred-Armandie. Great operation from Agen which moves a little further away from the red zone. Enough to find a bit of ambition.
There was no need to arrive late in Armandie for the second reception in a row for SU Agen in Pro D2. Wanting to maintain the momentum of the victory here against Oyonnax exactly a week ago, the Agen group had the ambition to take five new points and applied themselves to it throughout the meeting. Agen largely dominated Aurillac for an improved victory 43-17 with 6 tries scored including 4 in the first period. Aurillac barely existed despite a good scrum allowing itself to be dominated by the desire to produce play and opposing realism. Agen is doing better and can harbor ambitions if he continues to produce a game that doesn't let the opponent breathe. Aurillac still cannot manage to continue.
Agen stifles Aurillac from the start
As if Aurillac knew that it was going to be subjected to waves of entry or rather as if the Cantaliens wanted to pull the rug out from under Agen's feet, it was the visitors who first showed their fangs in the first seconds. But without converting this first highlight in the 22 m of the SUA with a forward, the reaction of the hosts was necessarily terrible. After work from the forwards on the right side within 22 m, the play was sent wide to the right to touch the wing with Etcheverry. The game moved back towards the center after a ball on the ground and Socino, very active and launched, scored under the posts (5th, 7-0). Aurillac resisted for a few minutes with a well-established defense and in particular an efficient scrum, giving time to its scorer Tedo Abzhandadze to make two attempts to unlock the visitors' counter (18th, 7-3).
But the break finally came for the Cantaliens who multiplied the mistakes under pressure. The Agen opener Billy Searle, three times passers the previous week, scored the second try after fixations from his forwards (24th, 14-3) while Aurillac was reduced to 14 for a 4th fault in the same offensive phase. Eight minutes later, same pressure and same consequences for Aurillac who cracked a third time with this time a breakthrough on the left side ending with a penalty try for a fault preventing the try of 9 Dorian Bellot (32nd, 21-3). New yellow card for Aurillac who lost his captain Didier Tison for the end of the first act.
A time in numerical superiority that the Lot-et-Garonnais made profitable after two penalties in the opposing 5m and Valentin Gayraud flattened for the 4th time in 40 minutes with a maul sure of his strength (36th, 28-3). Half-time is reached with a well-consolidated offensive bonus for SU Agen against the Auvergnats who are well overwhelmed.
Agen does not loosen the grip on the recovery
The second half could start calmly for Sébastien Calvet's players but we immediately felt that the coach's words were to continue the work. The fifth Agen test came quickly. On a new highlight in the 22 m of the SACA, the forwards first fixed then we went wide to the left towards the club's try master, Iban Etcheverry who planted his 4th try in two matches. Franck Pourteau, the SUA scorer, ensured the transformation on each try of his team (46th, 35-3).
From then on the Agenais were less dominant and Aurillac took advantage of this to get out of the water. Unlike at the very start of the match, SACA scored on a high point in the 5m Agen and the replacement hooker, Ronan Loughnane, finished the difficult job as a good basic man (55th, 35-10). An affront which did not go unpunished since Agen responded within a minute with a 6th try to tell his opponent that he just had to accelerate as he pleased. Searle intercepted a ball in the middle of the field and sent a good kick that Clément Garrigues transformed into a diving try (57th, 40-10).
Loughnane could sign a double on the same type of action as on the first (67th, 40-17), Agen calmly managed the end of the match which Pourteau concluded with the only Agen penalty of the match (80th, 43-17). A beautiful and deserved victory for Agen for a breath of fresh air in the rankings and in the minds.
Related News :