A slap! For the first Landes derby of the 2024/2025 Pro D2 season, US Dax crushed its rival Mont de Marsan with an improved victory (40-11). A clear victory thanks to the four tries scored and the success at the foot of Romuald Séguy, against Mons who were initially ineffective before becoming undisciplined. The bet of USD president Benjamin Gufflet, who chose to relocate the club's 120th anniversary derby to Bayonne, is successful, in a practically full Jean Dauger stadium. A total success.
Two tries in six minutes for Dax
Despite a first Monois sequence from the start, near the Dacquois goal, it was the USD which opened the scoring thanks to a penalty from Romuald Séguy (13th, 3-0). Before Mont de Marsan equalized immediately following a penalty from Willie Du Plessis (3-3, 15th). Jeff Dubois' players then impose their power and rhythm.
Dacquois second line Jean-Baptiste Singer scores the first try of the match, taking advantage of a Mons touch stolen by Iban Hiriart Urruty, before pushing the yellows and blacks to their goal line (20th, 10-3) . Then, on a scrum for Dax in the center of the field, center Noah Néné finds the gap on the left and perfectly negotiates a two-on-one at 22 meters to offer the first try of the season to Fijian winger Jope Naseara (26th, 17th -3).
Mont de Marsan spoils, Séguy sanctions
As in the first action of the match, Stade Montois wasted clear testing opportunities. Shortly after the half hour mark, Patrick Milhet's players returned to the opponent's last five meters, followed up with pick and goes, but were unable to break through the red wall. Before Nacani Wakaya took advantage of a quickly played penalty to give the ball to pillar Luka Goginava, tackled and returned to the goal. Just before half-time, Romuald Séguy, who had already converted the two Dacquois tries, added a penalty 40 meters away (40th, 20-3).
Upon returning from the locker room, US Dax lost its winger Jope Naseara to injury, hit in the knee following a tackle (42nd). Leading the score, Jeff Dubois' players took advantage of the slightest opportunity to accentuate their advantage and took advantage of the accuracy at the foot of Romuald Séguy to score a second penalty (45th, 23-3). Response from his Mons counterpart Willie Du Plessis, obtaining a penalty thanks to a good breakthrough from Myles Edwards and Aurélien Lafforgue, then the foul on the ground by Dacquoise (51st, 23-6).
Fortuin and Alvès expelled, the Mons outnumbered
As the staff prepare to bring out their sidelines, Mons second row Aston Fortuin is penalized with a shoulder-head tackle on Iban Hiriart Urruty. The referee of the match, Ludovic Cayre, chose to show the red card to send off the South African. Mont de Marsan finished the match inferior and Romuald Séguy sanctioned them by scoring the penalty (54th, 26-6).
With one player less, Mont de Marsan reacted immediately and invested the opposing 22 meters. On a penalty, the blacks and yellows send a ball carried into the goal flattened by the hooker Florian Dufour (57th, 26-11). But playing their best, they were sanctioned again following a voluntary forward attack from pillar Anthony Alvès in his defensive zone: yellow card (60th). Stade Montois then finds itself at 13 against 15 for ten minutes.
US Dax snatches offensive bonus point
With fifteen points behind and two players less on the Mons side, the intensity drops a notch, despite Patrick Milhet coming off the bench with his six forwards. But derbies are sometimes marked by exploits, flashes of lightning. It is on one of them that Dacquois center Noah Néné, on loan from Stade Français, scores the USD's third try by crossing the 50 meters of Mons crosswise. Romuald Séguy succeeds in the transformation and continues his flawless footing (72nd, 33-11).
In front of 12,440 spectators, US Dax completed a success on and off the field, scoring a fourth try synonymous with an offensive bonus point. The quality of the Dacquoise back line still speaks and full back Théo Duprat flattens a try in the corner after a good exit from the scrum. Romuald Séguy finished the match with a 100% score thanks to his eighth scored kick of the evening (78th, 40-11).
