Disappointment at Arboras for the first match of the season. We expected Nice, but found Valence Romans, who won the match after 80 minutes of play without any highlights.
While the local team’s performance was lackluster, with many shortcomings, especially in the scrum with a front row that accumulated penalties, the Drôme team didn’t do anything exceptional either, except to better manage their actions.
On the Nice side, two missed penalties didn’t help the comeback attempt that could have been possible at the end of the match.
The first half was balanced, with both teams canceling each other out, except in the last minute when the visitors managed to cross the try line with their pack (3-10 for Valence).
The second half showed more of the same, and then a second try widened the gap in favor of the visitors, creating the conditions to withstand a try scored by Nice hooker Haupt without jeopardizing their victory, with a final score of 20-13 (two penalties and a conversion by Dorian Jones).
After this unexpected setback, Stade Niçois will need to reassess if they wish to fulfill their ambitions. The trip to Blagnac next weekend will be the opportunity to provide a convincing answer.
