Villeneuve 6 – Pia 4
M-T : 0-4.
Referee: M Caffin (Aude), replaced by M. Gely (NA) in the 25th minute.
Winners: 1 E Bachoukh (57) ; 1 T Malbec.
Defeated: 1 E Bergal (15).
VILLENEUVE : Aiken, Rouillaud, Poulain, Malbec, Riguet, Moule, Bachoukh, Revell, Barjou, Wambergue (cap), Vergniol, Gilles, Escoder. Entrés en jeu: Zava, Kouassi, Gautier, Beauvilliers.
Exp. Temp. : Foal (57).
PIA : A.Miloudi, Bergal, Bonneriez, Baby, Theresin, Chachoua, H.Miloudi, Domergue, Zafra, Hansen, Laurent, Natoli, Meresta (head). Entries in play: Bernard, Rena Argeles, Huescar, Jobe.
Exp. Temp. : H.Miloudi (50).
Come on, let's be honest. We did not witness a very big match yesterday on the Choisy lawn between two teams visibly hampered by a very violent wind, having difficulty finding spaces and setting up their game. Yes with the support of Eole in the first period, Pia's Baroudeurs camped regularly in the Villeneuvoise half of the field, monopolized the ball, they came up against a very well organized local defensive block, sliding perfectly across the entire width of the pitch. And if they only scored one try during the first 40 minutes of play through winger Bergal, having managed to slip into a small mouse hole on his right lane (0-4, 15th ), is that Villeneuve 13 spent tons of energy in defense, guarding with authority but also with courage over its territory.
And yet on several occasions, the Catalans were not very far from the zone of truth and the goal but their offensive ambitions were slowed down by small technical errors certainly giving rise to great local pressure. So at half-time, the “green and white” were still in the game with just four units behind but above all with the advantage of playing with the wind in their turn in the second half.
In reality, they didn't benefit much even if the Catalans were a little less dominant, certainly starting to doubt and also ask themselves some questions. Because it was written that this standoff between a young Villeneuvois team and a candidate for the top 3 would be decided on a roll of the dice. And he was in favor of the locals. Shortly before the hour mark, on one of the Leopards' rare offensive actions, scrum-half Hamza Bachoukh had the good idea to step up the pace a little, having the effect of creating a slight surplus. New Zealand fullback Jack Aiken stepped in, well relayed by Lucas Vergniol and it was Bachoukh who finished the work between the bars. Quentin Malbec's easy transformation allowed the pioneer club to take the lead (6-4, 57th).
A score which no longer changed despite several visiting attempts aborted by hand faults and this capacity for resilience on the part of Constant Villegas' players having never given up anything on their pitch. A Pyrrhic success for this young Villeneuve team which continues to grow and surprise observers.
