Defeated last week 30 to 18 in the Tarn, the players of Stade Niçois turned the tide and qualified for the quarter-finals of the Yves du Manoir trophy thanks to a 34-17 victory. The season continues for the Niçois who will face Tarbes on May 26 and June 2.
PHEW! That was pretty much the reaction of all the supporters from the Côte d’Azur who were present at the Stade des Arboras yesterday afternoon at the end of the match. Starting with a 12-point deficit due to the 30-18 loss last weekend in Lavaur, David Bolghashvili’s men went all out from the start of the match. No time to observe or calculate with a try scored in the 6th minute by hooker Louis Martin following a rolling maul. In total, the former Brive player scored three tries. The same three. Three rolling mauls. All were scored in the first half. At halftime, Nice led by 10 points, 17 to 7, and were temporarily eliminated.
Returning from the locker room, the occupants of Stade des Arboras continued their forward work and scored 2 more tries (Domenech 49′ and Macquaire 53′). Although the visitors reduced the score, Stade maintained its lead and ensured their qualification. Final score 34-17, a 17-point difference, and qualification for the quarter-finals of the Yves-du-Manoir trophy.
Extreme tension on and off the field
“Rough but within the rules.” This rugby expression finds its meaning following this match. On the field, both teams faced off with a lot of tension (direct elimination match obliges) and power. The tension was reflected in many altercations during the match and after the final whistle. The referee’s decisions greatly irritated the members of the Nice staff, who expressed it in the locker room corridor. On the field, 3 yellow cards were handed out: 2 for the home team (TIVOLI 30′ and FRITZ 32′) and one for the visitors (POO 40′). The altercations demonstrate the tension around this match but without bad gestures from either side.
