After two consecutive defeats (at Hyères and Bédarrides), Stade Niçois ends its 2018-2019 season with a victory over the leader of Pool 4, Bourgoin, with an offensive bonus of 28 to 10. The Niçois finish 4th in Pool 4 of Fédérale 1 and will participate in the Yves du Manoir trophy.
0/10. 0 defeats for Stade Niçois in 10 home games this season before hosting Bourgoin at Stade des Arboras. This speaks to the challenge faced by the Berjalliens. CSBJ, on the other hand, arrives in Nice as the undisputed leader (they had a 6-point lead over runner-up Dijon before the match). Beaten in the first leg at their stadium by these same Niçois (18-17), the Isérois arrive with a spirit of revenge on the French Riviera.
Even though the match did not have the desired or expected intensity (both teams were assured to remain in their respective positions), Bourgoin played realistically throughout the game. On each incursion into the Niçois’ camp, they systematically left with points. Firstly, in the 12th minute of play, the CSBJ hooker scored the first try of the match following a series of plays in the hosts’ territory. A penalty was added in the first half, and the visitors remained stuck at 10 points scored.
Sloppy at times, overwhelming at others
The Niçois team, meanwhile, took a bit longer to get into their game. Some handling errors, lost lineouts disrupted the hosts’ play. The expulsion of the opposing number eight Taavali, for a shoulder tackle to Martin’s head, completely changed the outcome. Jeremy Malavard’s teammates (absent due to injury) took control of the game and scored 4 tries, synonymous with an offensive bonus. Erskine, Sylvain Romain, Parcheminer, and Bonnet-Gonnet crossed the opponent’s try line. Final score, 27 to 10 for Stade Niçois, who finishes the season unbeaten at home.
A qualifying 4th place …
With this bonus victory, David Bolgashvili’s men finish their first season in Fédérale 1 in a very fine 4th place. It should be noted that the club was penalized with a 12-point sanction for administrative reasons. Without that, the red and blacks would have been in 3rd place. Bourgoin and Dijon thus finish the year in the 1st and 2nd qualifying spots for the final phases. However, the joys of Fédérale 1 mean that the season is not yet over for the Niçois, who qualify for the Yves-du-Manoir trophy. A trophy between the teams from the 4 pools of Fédérale 1 that finish in the 3rd, 4th, 5th, and 6th places of their pool. Next step, the weekend of May 4/5 (first leg) and May 11/12 (return leg) for the quarter-final against Lavaurs (5th in Pool 2).
It’s worth noting that the neighboring team Grassois finishes last and is relegated to Fédérale 2.
