Niort: 38
Arcachon Basin: 7
On this Sunday, in Espinassou, much more than five points were at stake. Because this date of September 29, 2024 will forever be engraved in the history of Niort RC, brought to experience a moment both so strong and so heartbreaking.
Dressed in a white t-shirt with the number 15 and “La Gobe” on the back, the Niortais honored the memory of Quentin Gobet, their full-back who tragically died two weeks ago. Filled with all the members of the club, from the youngest to the oldest, the stands froze, overcome by emotion and tears that wet the eyes and cheeks of everyone.
All with dignity, surrounded by Quentin Gobet’s family, Gilbert Nasarre, the president, then took the microphone, finding the right words for this moment that the oval ball knows how to offer so well. Before his team, a few moments later, took over on the field with the memory of the former LOU and Valence-Romans in the back of everyone’s minds.
An almost perfect first act
And the start set the tone almost immediately: Johann Authier’s men, even touched in their flesh, wanted to take control. To transform their immense pain into strength, too. Found by Fuertes at the foot, Benard thought he would unlock the mark very quickly (9e), but he was ultimately flagged offside.
After a few minutes of struggling, the NRC finally hit the mark with Douglas, who concluded this highlight (20e). And the machine was unlocked almost at once: well helped by Benard, who confirmed his excellent start to the season, Pilet took advantage of his comrade’s offering to score the second try of the match (24e). Before Gimenez, in force and after a collective movement, increased the score even further (38e).
Set like a metronome, Fuertes transformed everything and Niort returned to the locker room leading 24-0 and already having the offensive bonus in his pocket despite several balls lost in touch. Taken by surprise and overwhelmed, the Arcachon Basin, for its part, seemed incapable of coming back.
The rain then decided to get involved, just to complicate the task a little. Which helped to break the rhythm a little, especially on the Niort RC side. But the game project and the quality were going to speak, again. Using a penalty, their great specialty, to good effect, the Deux-Sévriens crushed the opposing defense with the strength of their collective and found the fault (54e). Bordes received a yellow card in the process and Fuertes, infallible, transformed, like a tireless second blade determined to punish.
Goufan completes the success
At 31-0, the end of the match could have looked like an ordeal for the Girondins. But at 14, they managed to score thanks to Belio, found at the end of the line at the foot (63e). Enough to give a little scare in the Niort bays, with a potentially threatened bonus and some unexpected inaccuracies. Especially since Erasmus, freshly entered the game, received a yellow card in his turn.
But this collective, even more so this Sunday, was inhabited. On a mission, too, carried by a spectator up there in the sky. As a good captain, after several phases of play, Goufan took advantage of a new powerful collective effort to resolve any possible suspense. At 38-7, Niort RC signed a third victory in as many matches. But this one, without a doubt, will always taste different.
The sheet
Half time: 24-0.
Referee: Mrs. Ferre.
For Niort: 5E Douglas (20e), Ticket (24e), Gimenez (38e), collective (54e), Goufan (82e), 1P Strong (4e), 5T Strong (22e25e39e56e83e).
For Arcachon Bay: 1E Belio (63e), 1T Reggiardo (65e).
Yellow cards: in Niort, Erasmus (68e) ; at the Arcachon Bay, Bordes (54e), Follow (81).e).
> Niort: Bougerol, Gimenez, Ahouadi – Van Leeuwen, Le Roux – Tixier, Nieto, Goufan (cap.) – Barbarit Guidani (m), Fuertes (o) – Marsan, Buch, Douglas, Benard, Pilet. Finishers: Mees Erasmus, Kumbirai, Bonhommeau, Chabeaudie, Baudin, Meron, Alligner, Alcacèbe, Cazes, Tutuila Vaea, Lavaux.
> Arcachon Basin: Estor, Plazer, Sharashidze – Beltran, Chauveau – Malanda, Dubois, Toevalu – Peignon (m), Lopes (o) – Poiteau, Reggiardo, Sanz, Goursolas – Belio. Finishers : Bordes, Mamfoumby, Brosse, Smeets, Sivade, Etchebest, Domercq, Dos Santos.
Hot
Johann Authier (Niort RC coach): “It’s been a pretty difficult fortnight. We had to remobilize in the context we know. Today, I have very little desire to talk about the match, ultimately, because both the content and the result are anecdotal. It was important for us to pay this tribute to “La Gobe” as it should. And then also to keep what was his strength, namely his smile. That’s what I told the guys: we lost one of our flames and we had to, with all our flames combined, compensate for it. We will miss him all the time but he will be with us throughout the season. We didn’t really know how the group would react. Even though we trained well, we felt that we were sluggish and half-hearted. It wasn’t a great rugby match but that’s all anecdotal. Life must go on. The group will continue to move forward but today, we think more about the loss of Quentin than anything else. »
