For the fifth day of the National Championship, Stade Niçois made short work of RC Hyères Carqueiranne La Crau. Two teams whose standings before the match were similar.
Two weeks after their narrow defeat on the field of Narbonne, the Niçois needed to bounce back. The start of the match was not easy. From the kickoff, Hyères put on the pressure and camped in the Niçois 22 meters without scoring. It was finally Nice that scored the first try of the match with a well-constructed play. Nathan Courtade capitalized on the hard work of his forwards to offer a beautiful try ball to the fullback David Odiete. Romain Riguet converted and even increased the score by kicking two penalties (0-13).
The Stade made the break but got surprised at the 20th minute on a play that started in the midfield. On a skip pass, Paul Gadea broke a tackle, outplayed the defense, and served Defrance, who scored in the corner. The conversion was successfully made by Jaun Kotze (7-13), relaunching the game. The match was open, with opportunities on both sides.
Nice drove the point home five minutes before the break through their second row Adrien Vigne, who benefited from a powerful run by the prop Luvuyo Phindile Pupuma. At halftime, the visitors led (10-20) after Romain Riguet’s conversion and a penalty by Jaun Kotze.
Stade Niçois makes the break
If Nice was close to widening the gap just before halftime without a knock-on by Pupuma, the men of Alexandre Compan and Mariano Taverna didn’t take long to extend their lead. And it was the flanker Ramiha Smiler who concluded a beautiful scrum. Four minutes later, it was the hooker Pierre Strippoli who scored a cheeky try behind a well-executed lineout. The Stade led (10-30) despite the lack of success from their kicker Romain Riguet in the second half.
Hyères Carqueiranne found themselves in big trouble and conceded another try. This time it was the scrum-half Corentin Penc Hoat who shone after recovering the ball in his own thirty meters. He scored five more points after outsmarting the entire local defense.
The match was wrapped up. The Hyérois reacted with a collective try after a scrum to try to regain some momentum. But it was indeed the Niçois who scored the eighth and last try of the game. Ramiha Smiler achieved his brace after a beautiful driving maul by the reds and blacks.
Final score (17-42) in favor of Stade Niçois, who will host Carcassonne (3rd) for their season premiere at the Arboras Stadium. Join us on Saturday, October 7th (6 PM) to try to climb onto the National podium.
