Aurélien Canot, Media365, published on Friday January 17, 2025 at 11:41 p.m.
Still undefeated on its lawn this season, Provence signed the feat of the 17th day of Pro D2 by bringing down Grenoble (24-18) in the shock of the evening. The Isérois nevertheless retain first place, but only have five points on Béziers, clear winner of Soyaux-Angoulême on the road, and seven on the Provençaux. Oyonnax achieved a fourth victory, while Montauban raised its head after five defeats.
A setback for Grenoble. Traveling to the pitch of Provence Rugby, where no one had won this season, the leader, like the previous visitors to the Maurice-David stadium, bit the dust against the Provençaux on Friday in the shock of this 17th day of Pro D2 (24-18) and at the same time sees his series end after three victories in a row. Usually (six times out of seven situations before Friday), when the Grenoblois score the first try, they do not lose. this match was the exception which confirms the rule since the try, scored quickly by Giorgi Kveseladze to allow FCG to lead 10-0 after twelve minutes of play, did not prevent Provence from overthrowing the leader in the ranking. The response from the Provençals was not long in coming, since Léo Drouet, superbly offset by Jules Soulan, revived his team just four minutes after the Georgian's try. This same Drouet, on a magnificent breakthrough, then gave his team the advantage for the first time, even if, at the break, the two teams had parted with a draw (15-15), Kaminieli Rasaku having equalized by surprising everyone after picking up the ball.
Soulan offers victory to Provence
As soon as the restart, a drop from Samuel Davies gave Grenoble three points back. Three penalties then from Soulan finally got the better of a leader who was too undisciplined on Friday and who left Provence without the slightest point, while the locals, still undefeated at home, signed their ninth victory in a row in front of their home crowd. It allows them to come back to seven points behind Isérois, while Béziers is only five lengths behind its rival from now on. Earlier in the evening, the Biterrois, although off to a poor start, had overthrown Soyaux-Angoulême on their lawn (32-13) and thus signed a second consecutive victory, and what's more, improved. Brive, for its part, slipped to fourth place after its home defeat against Nevers (23-22) and Shaun Reynolds who scored the penalty to win in stoppage time.
-Montauban, finally!
Dax and the surprise guest of the French XV for the Tournament Noah Nene (remained in the stands on Friday), fifth, follow at three points despite the slap received on Friday in Colomiers (43-16), completely revived and taking the opportunity to get closer Landais in the ranking. Montauban, eighth, finally raised its head, winning in pain against Valence Romans (25-23) after five defeats in a row. Oyonnax, for his part, scored a fourth victory in a row by knocking out bottom-placed Nice on the Côte d'Azur (33-15). The promoted team has not won since October 18 (ten defeats in a row, current series).
The results of the evening
Soyaux-Angoulême – Béziers : 13-32
Brive – Nevers : 22-23
Colomiers – Dax : 43-16
Nice – Oyonnax : 15-33
Montauban – Valence-Romans : 25-23
Provence – Grenoble : 24-18
NB: The Aurillac – Mont-de-Marsan match has been postponed
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