Everything seemed to be starting well for Christophe Moni’s men, with two penalties from the metronome Grégory Chambon allowing the Niçois to end the first quarter of the game with a slight 3-point lead (6-3). With a bit more success, the former Toulon player could have even increased the score, but his attempt went wide to the right of the posts. Kicking play was omnipresent at the start of the match, and it was precisely from a placed kick by the Marseillais that Julien Caminati broke away on the wing, attempting a small kick over the Provençal winger. Unfortunately, Caminati’s attempt only found the hands of Ourabah, who had a clear path to score the first try of the match, converted by Martin (3-13). The Niçois then decided to speed up the game, and in a similar play within the Provençal 22 meters, Ducourtieux recovered an unsuccessful kicking attempt to return the favor to the Marseillais by grounding the ball in the end zone. Chambon nailed the conversion, bringing Nice back into the game (10-13). The Azuréens pushed forward, and thanks to two successful penalties by the same Chambon, the Nice XV took the lead before returning to the locker room (16-13).
One might think that the Niçois, certainly pepped up by Christophe Moni during the break, would come back stronger in the second half, but it was the Marseillais who scored points through Martin, who skillfully converted penalties generously offered by the Niçois unable to shift into a higher gear. Grégory Chambon had less luck, as his penalty attempt did nothing more than hit the Marseilles post. Minutes ticked away as the Niçois tried, with great difficulty, to reach the Provençal end zone, but between the Marseillais defense and handling errors, nothing more was scored for the Niçois.
Marseille thus leaves their Niçois neighbors with a surprising victory, and it will really be necessary to raise the level of play for the home game next Sunday against Carqueiranne Hyères, who lost on their turf to the Pays d’Aix and will be eager to make up for this blunder against the Nice XV.
Other Results:
Graulhet – Lavaur : 24 – 23
ES Catalane – Carcassonne : 31 – 19
Carqueiranne Hyères – Pays d’Aix : 23 – 29
Standings:
1- Carqueiranne Hyères 6 pts
2- Lavaur 5 pts
3- Pays d’Aix 5 pts
4- Nice 5 pts
5- Graulhet 5 pts
6- ES Catalane 4 pts
7- Marseille Vitrolles 4 pts
8- Carcassonne 4 pts
