Big challenge for the seniors who were traveling to the Toulouse runner-up of the TEC. To raise the curtain, team 2, certainly incomplete but facing an opponent well within its reach, let victory slip away at the last minute. Leading 10-5 at half-time and still 15-14 with a minute to go, they lost at the very end of the match on yet another penalty despite 2 tries to 1. The defensive bonus point is little consolation. The ranking does not reflect the potential, far from it! Team 1 started with much better intentions and in the 5th minute, took the score on a penalty from Benjamin Roudière. The TEC equalized, the match was close but Roudière doubled the lead for a score of 6 to 3 at halftime. At the restart, the visiting forwards maintained their control over the match, the hard work bearing fruit. The SJAO confirmed its domination with 2 tries from Salabaraas transformed by Roudière. At 20 to 3, the gap was made. The supply of fresh blood allowed the TEC to get a little closer and even return to 20-15 with 2 tries, one of which was converted. But Saint-Juéry resumed its march forward with a new penalty and a try from Schmidt, again transformed, for a final score of 30 to 15. If the 23 players are to be congratulated for this great away victory, despite the absences from Rousseau, Boulogne or even Marion, it is appropriate to highlight the collective performance of the pack, starters and substitutes, all in control, dominating and wearing down the opponent, and scoring the 3 tries of the SJAO. This mastery never allowed the locals to feed their back lines in good conditions, which were also well countered in defense by the “red and green” three-quarters.
Next Sunday will be a day of rest. Well deserved. M.F.
