In an intense duel between the fiery spirit of Rugby Club Suresnes and the experience of Nissa Rugby, the Maralpins were able to demonstrate their mastery to prevail (24-17) at the end of an engaged and fast-paced match.
From the first sequences, the tone was set. Suresnes displayed perfectly organized defense, forcing Nice to go around the defensive line toward the outside. The Azureans managed to get closer to the Suresnes camp, before retreating a few meters under Parisian pressure and returning to the level of the halfway line.
The first two deployment sequences offered attractive play, with plenty of intensity and movement. Suresnes opened the scoring with a penalty after a kick that hit the post and went between the uprights (3-0). A following attempt fell short: a warning for Nissa Rugby.
Nissa Rugby demonstrates its power
Nice picked up momentum. The props, very mobile and dynamic, drove beautiful play sequences. Azure power put Suresnes under severe pressure. Despite a complicated lineout and a conceded penalty after a promising impact, the Niçois dominated the ball and intelligently occupied the field.
On the Suresnes side, the lineout alignment proved solid, and clearances allowed them to get out of their own half. After a Nice handling error, Suresnes entered the Azurean 22-meter line, but poorly executed kicking offered a restart to Nice, who gained nearly 30 meters.
Then came the turning point: after a long territorial dominance by Suresnes, a masterful Nice kick reversed the situation. On the next play, Nice scored the first try of the match. The conversion brought the score to 7-3.
Despite the injury departure of a Nice player hurt at the wrist, the home side did not despair. Their defensive experience made every Suresnes offensive more complex.
A second half under tension
On return from the dressing room, Suresnes came back with dynamism. Nice opposed solid defense, stopping a breakthrough at the 22-meter line after an impressive sprint. On the next play, the Niçois extended the lead 14-3, then drove home their advantage to lead 21-3 through a combination in a tight area.
Suresnes, far from giving up, asserted its character. A territorial advantage allowed the visitors to come back to 21-10, taking advantage of a Nice defensive lapse. Pressure intensified, and Suresnes determination brought them back to 21-17.
A kicking error by Nice briefly revived the suspense. But in the final minutes, Nice managed to score three additional points to seal the score at (24-17).
During extra time, the Niçois still attempted to increase the margin, without success. Dominant in the key moments and solid in difficult moments, the Azuréens knew how to manage the pressure.
Facing a young and spirited Suresnes team, Nissa Rugby demonstrated its experience. A precious victory that confirms the qualities of a group capable of combining power, discipline and tactical mastery. Next match next week, Saturday March 7 at 6 p.m. at Marcel Volot against Bourg-en-Bresse to try to extend their lead at the top of the National championship standings.
Ambre Yaici
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