Nice overcame Valence D’Agen (18-16) this Sunday at Stade des Arboras after a high-quality match. The team led by Manu Boutet and Will Johnson thus continues their unbeaten streak (3 wins and one draw) and can still dream of qualifying for the final stages of the competition.
This match, entirely dominated by Nice (who could have even secured the offensive bonus point if the last play hadn’t ended in the wrong in-goal…), demonstrated to the Nice crowd that the group led by captain David Penalva is gaining momentum and offering very promising future prospects.
The beginning of the match was quite tight. But after two penalties by Adrien Malavard (4 and 22, 6-3), scrum-half Damien Delmonte gave Nice a clear advantage by scoring the first try of the match at the end of a run (11-3, 23). Following a turnover by Junior Sua, linked to a magnificent tackle in the center of the field, the Nice counterattack began. Arnaud Mathet, Bastien Sainte-Croix, Alex Mezencev, and David Penalva, in turn, fought hard to enable Delmonte to win the final duel before crossing the line.
Although Valence d’Agen closed the gap with a penalty (11-6, 28), the end of the first half was rather overshadowed by Andrew Sa’s injury, who was hit in the neck and replaced by Théo Panizzi.
As soon as the second half began, the Nice team widened the lead. After an interception by Rudy Keil and a counterattack of over 70 meters, Josselin Lapierre provided a second phase of play following a ruck, allowing Sainte-Croix to score the second try (18-6). From then on, despite an opponent’s penalty (18-9, 54), Penalva’s teammates pushed hard to score a third try, aiming for the offensive bonus point.
However, after spending more than 15 minutes camped in Valence d’Agen’s half without scoring, it was a counter-try in the very last second (well beyond regulation time) of the match that rewarded the valiant opponents (18-16, 80+5).
After this victory, Nice, now third in Pool 2, surpasses Montauban in the standings and ties with Blagnac, who is second. Nice will travel to Montauban next week before hosting Blagnac in 15 days. This promises to be exciting…
It should be noted that the National B team was defeated 20-3 by their Valence d’Agen counterpart, while in the undercard the Under-21s beat Vienne (25-18).
The lineup
Mathet – Malavard, Benstaali, Keil, Sa (Panizzi, 38) – Delmonte (Musso, 80), Lapierre – Espagno, Sainte-Croix (Orméa, 55), Mezencev – Penalva (Okouya, 66), J. Sua (Boukanoucha, 49) – R. Uipa Sua (Dahbi, 59), Faurois (Kaikelikofe, 80), Canizares (Guarese, 48)
Photo credit: www.rnca.fr
