Top 14 (14th day). RC Vannes – Clermont: 19-20
The encouragement of La Rabine at a sold-out crowd for the 21st time in a row was not enough. Clermont, monument of the Top 14 in which it is now 4th, was still a little too strong, a little too powerful. “We need two victories,” warned Jean-Noël Spitzer. His flock did not overcome the first pitfall on Sunday. He was big, certainly, but he was essential for the RCV to stay in the race for maintenance. From now on, the Vannes residents are seven points behind the barrage. A world for a novice team at this level whose ultimate hope of reversing the trend will be the reception of Stade Français, its predecessor, beaten at home by Bègles-Bordeaux on Saturday, in three weeks.
As is often the case, Vannes started strong. Monopolizing the leather, almost constantly occupying ASM’s half of the field for 25′ and taking the score quickly. First by a Camou try magnificently transformed by Lafage (7-0, 12′) then by a penalty from the latter (10-3, 27′) in the wake of that of Clermont (7-3, 24′) .
And then there was the traditional gap during the end of the first period where the appearance of the match was reversed. Clermont erased its waste and Jeauneau was no longer the only one to break through a local defense caught out by Montagne (10-10, 35′). RCV even returned to the locker room trailing following Belleau’s penalty (10-13, 40′).
Heart but a rejected try and missed opportunities
But these people from Vannes have heart and they started the second half like the first. With almost the same sharpness. They got back in front thanks to two penalties from Lafage (43′ and 52′, 16-13). Newsome’s try (54′, 16-20) and especially the one denied to Rayasi (55′) could have knocked out the newly promoted players but they remained in the battle, fighting, uncompromising in defense at times, even returning to a completely small length (19-20, 67′).
Yet valiant, the RCV once again missed some great opportunities, notably lost touches from five meters away. In the meantime, on Wednesday, Jean-Noël Spitzer, the club’s general manager, was summoned by the LNR disciplinary committee. For a new blow?
The technical sheet
Arbitrator : M. Nuchy.
The points. RC Vannes: 1 try from Camou (10′), 1 conversion from Lafage (10′), 4 penalties from Lafage (26′, 43′, 52′, 67′); Clermont: 2 tries from Montagne (34′) and Newsome (54′), 2 conversions from Belleau (34′, 54′), 2 penalties from Belleau (24′, 40′).
Yellow card. Clermont : Tixeront (4’).
RC VALVES. 15. Surano, 14. Rayasi, 13. Taccola, 12. Arrate (Saili, 55′), 11. Camou, 10. Lafage, 9. Ruru, 8. Kalamafoni, 7. Gorrissen, 6. Augrey, 5. Metz ( Mézou, 55′), 4. Marks (Edwards, 47′), 3. Bourgeois (Medrano, 47′), 2. Blanchard (Beziat, 57′), 1. Vunipola (Moukoro, 55′). Manager: Jean-Noël Spitzer.
CLERMONT. 15. Newsome, 14. Delguy, 13. Fouyssac, 12. Simone, 11. Raka, 10. Belleau, 9. Jauneau (Bézy 65′), 8. Lee (Fischer 59′), 7. Kremer, 6. Tixeront, 5. Ceyte (Yato, 50′), 4. Lanen, 3. Montagne (Ojovan 50′), 2. Massa (Fourcade 52′), 1. Falgoux (Akhaladze, 50′). Manager : Christophe Urios.
