Corbières to struggle. Make way for “France”!
How do we recognize the value of a shield? The quality of an opponent, which was the case this Sunday at Castanet where Corbières XV, opposed to Bressols, almost bit the dust for the first time in… a year and a half. Nothing was easy for the Audois who played, and won, the most competitive match of their season, in a stadium won over by the opposing cause. In a deafening noise, Bressols demonstrated unfailing valor and Corbières XV, often caught in the middle, was well and truly pushed to its limits. But Corbières count them.
We’re going to bring the shield to Cédric.
With red eyes, Thomas Clavières, the manager of Corbières “It’s by winning matches like this that you know what it feels like to win”, he blurted. Among his players, and after having intelligently calmed things down, Clavières did not say much. But one sentence necessarily resonated louder than the others: “We’re going to bring the shield to Cédric”. He will be very applauded, obviously. Cédric, Rosalen of course, undoubtedly had a lot to do with this first shield. He was perhaps behind Ugo Chiquillo, at 75e minute. Corbières XV is then led by one point, 16-17, when the opener shows the poles. It is located at 41 meters and, like his season, the Aude opener does not tremble. Here is Corbières XV who takes the lead in money time, 19 to 17. And who will not let go.
Corbières and Bressols no longer let go of each other
At the start of the match, Corbières XV perhaps did not expect such a challenge. He controls a Bressols team that has not yet left the locker room. Dominant in front, he leads after six minutes 6 to 0. If Bressols has not yet seen the light of day, this does not mean that “Christo” Kaiser’s teammates find the fault in the Bressolaise defense. An opponent who enters the Aude camp for the first time at 17e and who already scores his first three points on his first action (6-3). Reduced to 14 after the exit of its third line Balès, then to 13 (Rivas), Corbières begins to tremble. And to foil. With the ball in hand, he fails to make a difference and, which is rather rare this season, he gets heckled in the rucks. Worse, he plays too often in his camp and exposes himself. Opposite, Bressols pushes, hangs on, fights, and comes back to 6-6.
The finale is hanging, undecided. And the second half did not reassure the Aude supporters, extinguished by the opposing clamor. Heckled, his team is undisciplined, deprived of ammunition, and Bressols takes the lead on the scoreboard for the first time (6-9, 44e). He also commits unusual mistakes, like this forward attack in front of Kaiser’s poles or this penalty not found by a slightly greedy Chiquillo at the time. But Corbières XV has not said its last word. A touch captured by Balès, a devastating maul and Kaiser presses the canes (13-9). The hour of play is then suffocating. Bressols in turn scores at the end of the line and takes control (13-14). Then Chiquillo makes the powder speak. He will have the last word (19-17). Corbières XV too, of course. He can now, and proudly, set his sights on the French championship. This season anyway, he knows, nothing will be spared him.
Reactions
Sébastien Régy, trainer: “Faced with this very good formation which was not there by chance, we had to give 100%. We took them on the desire and the collective was effective in a difficult season with “Rose” who was supervising us from up there.”
Emeric Le Piver, captain: “We had to be united because we knew that there would be a lot of fighting and that it would be hard. We promised ourselves to put up this shield at Montcalm for Cédric. Congratulations to the whole group despite the team’s defeat B who also proudly wore the colors of the club. Well done to the staff, the volunteers, the supporters and the whole group. Place aux France, we will prepare for it.”
Henry Marty, co-president of Corbières XV: ”It’s a good achievement, we’re off to a good start where we’re not achieving anything. As a result, they are still in the game and making us doubt. Fortunately Kaiser’s essay frees us. I’m proud of the group.”
Clément Estériola, co-president of Corbières XV: “It was a very good team which caused us problems. It came down to details. In this complicated season, we did well. We close Occitanie in the best possible way by paying tribute to Cédric by this new planchot”.
