The two Stade Niçois teams secured victories on Saturday night in their encounters against Gapeau. 39 to 0 for the first team and 42 to 0 for the reserves. The first team is now one point behind Aubagne, who won in Martigues the following day 15 to 18, widening the gap with Martigues, who are 6 points behind. The next meeting is next Saturday in Draguignan, for the last match before the Christmas break.
It was a reshuffled team that took to the Arboras pitch on Saturday night. Indeed, Paul Perez-Cazelles, the usual fly-half, started at scrum-half following his good performance in that position last weekend. Other changes included Renaud Sergère starting on the wing before moving to the center, and prop Damien Canizares playing in the second row to bolster the pack.
Faced with the commitment and aggressiveness that the Var side brought to all phases of play, the Niçois struggled to establish their game in the first half. Unable to speed up their play, the players failed to destabilize Gapeau’s defense, which cut off the outside channels and contested every ruck. After an initial penalty by Adrien Malavard, it was Renaud Sergère, very lively on Saturday, who scored his first try following a blocked kick, allowing the locals to make a first breakthrough. With an additional penalty, the halftime score was 13 to 0.
After a stern talk from the manager at halftime, the players returned with more hunger than in the first half. This was evidenced by the four tries scored in the second period. Thomas Sorreaux scored the first, following a break by Renaud Sergère. Giorgi Mgeladze grounded the ball between the posts for the second, followed by Sergère for his second try of the match. Finally, Sorreaux scored again after a beautiful one-two-three, with Sergère being decisive once more in this action. Mission accomplished, the first team secured the offensive bonus point for their last home game in Nice of 2013. The team is now one point behind Aubagne, who won in Martigues the next day 15 to 18, widening the gap with Martigues, who are 6 points behind. The next meeting is next Saturday in Draguignan, for the last match before the Christmas break.
The reserves also achieved a flawless performance by earning the offensive bonus point and conceding no points, with a 42 to 0 victory. Six tries were scored by the players of the Basseto-Deauze duo, in a match controlled throughout. This is the third consecutive victory for Stade Niçois players before the trip to Draguignan next week. The reserves move up to second place in the pool, tied with La Valette and just behind Aubagne.
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