At the beginning of the match, the team from Nice took the lead thanks to penalties by Julien Caminati (6-0). Chalon responded with a corner try by Diotallevi (6-5). Then, the kickers exchanged blows, but Chalon gained the advantage just before halftime, thanks to a drop goal from Carmona (9-11). The players headed to the locker room with a tight scoreline reflecting the competitive nature of the game. Upon returning, Chalon imposed its strength through its forwards, dominating their opponent. However, Nice took the lead again through a beautifully concluded counter-attack try in the corner (14-11). Chalon patiently waited and finally capitalized on its opportunities. Following some line-out drives, they spread the ball wide, and the team in red and white scored three tries, including a magnificent one by Thomas. Despite Caminati’s kicking game, Nice could not recover. They let the victory slip away, losing 20-32.
“Disappointed but Confident”
For Anthony Hill, the club’s general manager, this defeat should not overshadow the quality of the game played by Nice: “It’s top-level competition. We’ve seen what we’re missing to play in Pro D2. We’re disappointed but confident. I hope the guys will respond well to win the other matches. We’re far from being dead! Their number 10 was excellent; if he plays like that every weekend, he’ll soon leave Fédérale 1. The stadium was almost full; their directors are very nice; it was a great celebration.” If the locals don’t manage to secure the top spot, they can still aim for second place, which would give them access to the playoffs.
