The league section of the French Championship has been a roller-coaster ride from the start, with shock results and dramatic finishes all the way. In the race for the vital four play-off positions six teams were still in the hunt well into the final month, and with one week left five still have it all to play for.
The penultimate round began on Saturday evening with second-placed Lons entertaining Bobigny. It was a game that would have been full of emotion at the best of times, as it marked club captain Maitena Chuburu’s final home game after 13 years at the club. She went out in style, carried in triumph from the field after the game by her teammates after Lons ended the season with a 100% home record following their 29-8 win over Bobigny, which included a crucial bonus point that took them three points clear at the top… until Sunday afternoon, at least.
Although the final score was convincing, it had been a tough battle – the first try did not come until the 35th minute, Caroline Ladagnous touching down completing a classic move that started back in the Lons 22. With the addition of a Laure Delas penalty, Lons lead by only 10-0 at the break.
Lise Arricastre added a second on 42 minutes, before a dramatic final ten minutes saw Lons first gain the attacking bonus with a try from Meyril Dubertrand, lose it three minutes later when Etcheverry touched down for the visitors, and then win it back again four minutes from time with a try from Melanie Sedze.
Sunday dawned with typical April weather over most of France – bright sunshine and sudden showers. The players took the field at Caen in particular under very dark skies, and the subsequent rain and blustery conditions contributed to a tense, nail-biting game. Both team had to win – the home team in order to maintain their challenge for the fourth play-off spot, and visitors Montpellier in order to regain their position at the top of the table. The visitors have the reputation of being very strong up front, but from the start Caen were more than a match and it was the home team who scored the game’s only try, on 20 minutes, when Virginie Letellier scored after a well controlled maul. Cindy Reynaud narrowly missed a chance to extend the lead with a drop goal attempt shortly afterwards before Montpellier managed to get onto the scoreboard with a penalty just before the break.
Caen, now with the wind behind them, were totally dominant in the second period, but could not break through and spurned several drop goal and penalty attempts. And then, in the final seconds, a rare foray into the Caen half by Montpellier resulted in a penalty, which was safely converted to give them a dramatic 6-5 win.
Last year’s runners-up therefore go into the final round with a single point advantage over Lons. However, as Montpellier will be at home to St Orens, while Lons must travel to Perpignan, that penalty has all but ensured they will go into the play-offs at the top seed.
But who will they play? That final penalty kick has also kept the identity of the fourth seed wide open. A few minutes after the whistle went in Caen, their rivals Lille – now only four points behind - kicked off in Paris against Gennevillers. A bonus point win would have pushed Caen into fifth, but similar conditions to those in Caen ensured a scrappy first period with the home team again unable to turn possession into points. 30 minutes went by before Les Nordistes finally put points on the board with a penalty, followed by a try just before the break. Play in the second period was almost entirely in the Sassenage half, but Lille did not finally breakthrough again until the 70th minute, as the heavens opened. The last ten minutes saw desperate attempts to score the vital third try – but to no avail.
“There was room to score more, said the disappointed Lille coach Damien Couvreur after the game, “but against a club that plays in life it is always harder." Back row Gina di Muzio looked forward to the vital game in two weeks time against Sassenage, "We did the job against Gennevilliers, now we are going to give everything after an almost perfect season. To play a semi-final against the clubs in the south would be the best reward and the most beautiful highlight for northern rugby.”
Caen and Lille therefore go into the final round level on 49 points, but with Caen having a significant advantage in points difference. However, while Lille can look forward to a final home game against 9th placed Sassenage – and a very probable bonus point win - it will be Caen’s turn to travel to the capital to face Bobigny, a game they should win… but a win on its own will not be enough. Its all too close to call.
Elsewhere USA Perpignan showed that they have run into form at just the right time with their best performance of the season – a seven-try, 51-7, demolition of Sassenage that guarantees the champions third place and an away semi-final against, probably, Lons. After a very average season for the all-star Catalans, 13 tries in their last two games shows that they are not yet willing to give up the title.
The final game of the weekend saw St Orens and Rennes play out a 10-10 draw in the only “dead rubber” of the round, with both clubs now safe for next season.
Positions (after 17/18 games): 1, Montpellier (68 pts); 2, Lons (67); 3, Perpignan (61); 4, Caen (49, points difference +107); 5, Lille (49, PD +74); 6, Rennes (40); 7, Bobigny (27); 8, St Orens (23); 9, Sassenage (11); 10, Gennevillers (7).
Final round (6th May): Lille v Sassenage; Rennes v Gennevillers; Montpellier v St Orens; Bobigny v Caen; Perpignan v Lons.
Wednesday 25 April 2012
Friday 15 October 2010
Thursday 24 December 2009
Wednesday 11 November 2009
Sunday 13 September 2009
Friday 1 May 2009
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)