For their third day of the Pro D2, Stade Niçois was defeated by Soyaux-Angoulême (24-39).
After their first victory in Pro D2 last week, Stade Niçois did not repeat the success this Friday night. Alexandre Compan’s men faced a stronger team and Soyaux-Angoulême showed no mercy.
After a disastrous start to the match, the Niçois were struggling. The two 10-minute exclusions of Tofua and Freytes didn’t help, leading the hosts to concede another try. By the 22nd minute, they were trailing 22-0 and had to react.
Back to a full 15-a-side, Tofua’s teammates reduced the margin thanks to a try by their number eight. However, Mathis Viard’s conversion was unsuccessful, leaving the Niçois with just five points.
The visitors hammered down with another penalty. The halftime score was decisive, with Stade Niçois trailing 25 to 5. The Niçois were paying for too many ground infringements and a lack of precision in hand play.
The reaction was not enough
After returning from the locker room, the Niçois showed a different side and pushed forward. More precise and cleaner in the rucks, the Niçois scored 19 points in eight minutes.
Three tries and two conversions by Vignolles, Smiler, and winger Erasmus brought the red and blacks back to within one point. Mathis Viard punished the visitors with his kicking, bringing Nice back into the game.
The hosts pushed hard in the last quarter hour to try and draw level, but haste and indiscipline dashed their hopes.
Indeed, an additional yellow card was all Soyaux-Angoulême needed to score two more tries and seize the scalp of the newly promoted Niçois.
The visitors solidified their second place in the standings, while the Niçois dropped another place. With five points in three games, Stade Niçois is now 14th. The next match for the Maralpins is next Friday on the field of Oyonnax at 7:30 PM.
