Stade Niçois thrashed Narbonne 30-16 and retains the top spot in the championship. They remain undefeated at home.
In a top-tier clash for this 17th day of the national league, Stade Niçois hosted their runner-up Narbonne. The Nice team had been defeated in the first leg in Narbonne, so there was a bit of a revenge atmosphere on the Arboras pitch. A pitch where Nice has yet to experience a loss this season. And this weekend was no exception. As usual, Alexandre Compan’s men started the match seriously and turned their good intentions into points with a penalty by Mathis Viard.
After a Narbonne penalty, the Nice team pushed their opponents to commit errors and scored a penalty try. The visitors were penalized with two yellow cards in 2 minutes and played with 13 against 15 players. The black and whites did not take full advantage of their numerical superiority. They went into the locker room with a seven-point lead. The score was 13-6.
A Late Conclusion
The return from the locker room was slightly uneventful, with neither team really taking control of the game. However, it was Narbonne who struck first in the second half, scoring their first try of the match. A try by winger Pierre Hugo Ducom, after the conversion, brought both teams to a draw on the scoreboard.
While doubt could have crept into the minds of Romain Riguet’s teammates, they showed character and regained the lead. Mateo Jeune Joly finished a good forward movement, allowing his team to take back control. The scrum-half provided relief for both players and supporters, allowing them to breathe easier ten minutes from the end.
Nice even concluded the match beautifully with a third try by Ovejero Abdala. Shaken in the second half, Stade Niçois overcame Narbonne and continued its journey towards the semi-finals. A 30-16 victory and an unbeaten home record maintained. The next appointment for Nice is next week, once again at home against Hyères.
