After a 6-month hiatus, the Nationale resumed this Saturday for Stade Niçois, who drew (13-13) at home against SC Albigeois. A match that nevertheless feels like a defeat.
The season is underway. No victory for the Nice rugby club, which may have regrets after a mistake in the last seconds of play. A mistake that proved very costly for the Niçois.
A tight match with few tries
It all starts in the 12th minute. After a missed penalty by Matthew James (Nice), the Albigeois opened the scoring thanks to Kévin Boulogne (0-3; 12th). But the Niçois quickly responded.
Thomas Toevalu (Albi) received a yellow card for collapsing the local team’s maul. An easy penalty for James (Nice), who brought the two teams level (3-3; 19th minute).
In the 26th minute, Augustin Slowik (Nice) broke through on the left wing. The try seemed unstoppable, but a deliberate knock-on by Boulogne broke the chance. The fly-half then received 10 minutes of exclusion. Despite complaints from the Nice public, staff, and players, the referee did not award a penalty try.
In this close first half, Stade Niçois took the lead again after a successful penalty by James (6-3; 36th). The halftime whistle blew.
A cruel end for the Niçois
Neither team truly dominated the other. Lionel Mapoe received a yellow card for tripping an Albigeois player. Outnumbered, the Azuréens conceded three points (6-6; 48th).
Three minutes from the end of the match, Matthew James appeared out of nowhere, breaking into the Albigeois defense to score the first try almost under the posts (13-6; 77th).
It seemed like salvation for the Niçois. But a referee’s whistle changed the situation. A penalty try for SC Albigeois after a collapsed maul in the southern team’s in-goal area (13-13; 83rd).
Silence filled the stadium. The match ended with a score of 13-13. A draw welcomed as a defeat on the Niçois side. Moreover, the players and staff seemed unanimous. “At five meters from the in-goal, we should have scored. We made a lot of silly mistakes that allowed Albi to stay in the game,” analyzed Matthew James. The same sentiment was echoed by David Bogashvili: “It’s both unfortunate and logical since we couldn’t convert the chances at five meters from the line.”
The first draw for Stade Niçois, who will travel to Tarbes next weekend.
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