It was an important poster for the 11th day of Pro D2 between Grenoble, one of the favorite teams to reach the Top 14 and Soyaux Angoulême, troublemaker at the start of the season, formidable away from home. It was the power and mastery of the Isérois that ended up paying off in this match which was ultimately won by the host Stade des Alpes with an improved victory (37-7) acquired at the very end of the match. The repeated assaults ended up piercing the armor of the Angoumoisins, too often pushed into error for 80 minutes. A 5-point success which places FC Grenoble Rugby at the top of the rankings after a third victory in a row.
We were expecting a real shock at the Stade des Alpes with two teams with great dynamics. Grenoble acted as the logical favorite as an undefeated team at home but Soyaux Angoulême had enough to disrupt the beautiful Alpine machine with its spoilsport status away from home with only one defeat in 5 away games. Yes but there you go, this Grenoble is not just any Pro D2 team and has made its power, its experience speak for itself to win without trembling against Angoulême even taking the offensive bonus to the siren to take comfort at the top of the ranking. A deserved victory even if it took time. Soyaux Angoulême was too undisciplined to hope for better.
Soyaux Angoulême realistic entrance
If the first points scored in the match are the work of the Welsh opener and scorer, returning from injury, Sam Davies (3rd, 3-0) after a very first foray into the Angoumois camp, it is indeed the visitor Charentais who strikes first. During his very first visit to the comfortable 22m of Grenoble, the mistakes multiplied (3) and the last touch at 5m was the right one. After trying on the right side we return towards the axis where the pillar Sami Zouhair finds the fault (10th, 3-7). The SA XV takes the score and Grenoble by the throat, reinforcing its image as a solid away team. History does not yet know it but the Charentais scored their first and last points of the match there.
More information to come…
Swiss