At the end of a suspenseful match, Nissa Rugby saw its excellent momentum come to a halt tonight with a loss on the field of Massy Essonne (13-10). In pursuit of a fifth consecutive victory before this match, Gareth Baber’s men have just lost a crucial match and let slip important points against a direct competitor in the battle for promotion to Pro D2.
At the kickoff of this top-table clash, only three points separated these two teams vying for promotion to the second division at the end of the season. The Maralpins, buoyed by their resounding success last weekend against Bourgoin-Jallieu (45-5), were occupying the second place in the standings, tied on points with Albi, the league leader. The Essonne club, which was fourth before the match following its narrow victory over Rennes (14-10), won tonight and halted the good momentum of the Azuréens.
A tense start between Maralpins and Massicois
In a cold and damp atmosphere, in the early moments of the match, Massicois and Maralpins gauged and observed each other. The Essonne club attempted to find a breach in the Maralpine defense, but the Azuréens, well-placed, fended off the Massicois’ incursion attempts. On their first defensive error, Nissa Rugby conceded a penalty. The ball went through the posts (7th minute), Massy opened the score in this game, 3-0.
Nissa Rugby showed more dynamism, attempted to respond, reorganized, and managed to earn several scrums and lineouts, which were halted by the solid defensive setup of the Essonne club.
A quarter-hour into the game, the match was scrappy, timid, with palpable tension on both sides, as neither team was able to find solutions to free up their play.
Nissa Rugby picks up the pace and takes the lead despite a yellow card
Shortly after the quarter-hour mark, the Maralpins monopolized the ball, with offensive phases following one after another. At the 25th minute of play, Nissa Rugby earned a penalty and drew level through their fly-half Flavio Asquini, who successfully kicked the ball through the posts, 3-3.
Massy couldn’t establish their play, and Nissa Rugby accelerated by multiplying their offensive actions once again. Following a beautiful team move, Clément Egiziano scored a try (33rd minute), converted by the Maralpins, who took the lead on the scoreboard, 3-10.
A few minutes before half-time, the game picked up pace, Massy reacted, attempting to breach the Azuréenne defense. On a knock-on judged intentional by the referee, Baptiste Lafond (37th minute) received a yellow card. The Maralpins were reduced to fourteen for the next ten minutes.
The Massicois tried to take advantage of their numerical superiority to draw level, with a series of offensive phases just before half-time in the last 10 meters of Nissa Rugby.
The Maralpins lock down the game without widening the gap
Upon the return from the locker rooms, the Maralpins attempted to find a gap in the Massicoise defense to pull away in this match.
Nissa Rugby pushes forward, recovers their opponent’s errors, and establishes their game in the Essonne club’s half. Despite their numerical advantage, Massy could not yet impose their play. At the 47th minute, Nissa Rugby returned to full strength after Baptiste Lafond’s comeback.
The two teams resumed gauging and observing each other. Following an error by the Massy defense, from 40 meters out, Nissa Rugby earned a penalty, but Flavio Asquini missed the attempt (55th minute), the score remained unchanged, 3-10.
The Maralpins attempted to breach the Massy defense with a maul from 10 meters out but were rebuffed by the Massicois.
Shortly before the hour mark, Nissa Rugby continued their offensive plays and scrums within Massy’s last 10 meters but still couldn’t find the breakthrough.
At the hour mark, the match tensed, both teams stayed put, took few risks, and the strategy became clear on the Maralpins’ side: maintain their lead by continuing the gameplay in their opponent’s half. A risky and double-edged choice.
Massy turns the game around late on
Following an error by the Azuréens, the Massicois gained a lineout 10 meters from the Azuréenne try line. On a driven maul, the referee awarded a penalty try to Massy (66th minute). The Essonne club equalized (10-10), while the Maralpins received a second yellow card in this match, with Nicolas Ciancio leaving his teammates, Nissa Rugby again reduced to fourteen for the next ten minutes.
Eight minutes before the end of the match, the Maralpins committed a foul within their last 25 meters, resulting in a penalty for Massy (71st minute), converted by Anselme Cellier (13-10), allowing the Essonne club to take the lead on the scoreboard. Nissa Rugby tried to respond at the end of this match, but Massy repelled the Azuréenne attempts.
With only a few minutes left before the end of the match, the Massicois went on the offensive again, and yet again, Nissa Rugby committed a defensive error within their last 40 meters, resulting in a penalty awarded to the Essonne club, though the attempt was missed.
The referee blew for full-time. Nissa Rugby was defeated on Massy’s field (13-10). An abrupt halt to their winning momentum for the Maralpins, who have just let slip important points for their promotion to Pro D2 tonight. Massy caught up with Albi and Nissa Rugby, at the top of the standings of Nationale with 59 points. The next match for the Maralpins will be on Saturday, January 31, 2026 at home against Niort.
