Top 8: Big win puts champions into 2nd place

Montpellier on their way to a big win in Caen (Photo:Sport a Caen)

This should have been a tough weekend for Lille, facing one of the top four teams from last season while three of their leading players were away playing for Belgium at the European Championship. However, in practice the withdrawal of Perpignan from the competition gave them a break at just the right time, ensuring that their lead at the top is maintained. Elsewhere, however, the on-field battles continued.

It’s been a tough season for Sandra Rabier’s Caen. There have been some positives, with their up-and-coming young players doing very in junior tournaments, and Julie Duval called up to play against England this weekend, but the Top 8 has so far been a bleak story. The injury list remains long, though return of the experienced Stéphanie Provost last weekend allowed some hope of change.

Unfortunately they were up against triple champions Montpellier, who have been in rampant form of late after their opening week shock. Even without Gaelle Mignot (in London for the World Rugby awards) their pack was heavier, more powerful and dominant.

As in every game so far this season, the Normans conceded an early try, this time in the sixth minute after a turnover, the ball making its way to Noémie Sanch for the start of what would be a memorable day for the teenage wing. After that Caen’s defence began to function, and on the quarter hour they had a very kickable penalty that could have brought them back into the game, but which fly-half Aude Béhague was unable to convert, and two minutes later had numerical advantage after a Montpellier yellow card.

However, despite being outnumbered, it is was Montpellier who scored a second try through Safie N'Diaye who saw the gap in the defensive line before passing to Julie Billes for the score. Caen responded, and were camped on the Montpellier line for some time, but with no result and at halftime the score was 12-0 to the visitors.

The second half opened as had the first with another great score by Sanch, after which the power of the visitors began to dominate proceedings. Billes added a second try on 62 minutes, Fantine Baccichet scored their first of her two tries seven minutes later, before Sanch completed her hat-trick as the champions ran out 39-0 winners.

Rennes have also had a struggle this season, but held the advantage away at Blagnac St Orens before having to surrender the points. They shocked their hosts with a second-minute try and were 10-3 ahead at the break.

However the game was turned in the second half mainly thanks to the performance of Audrey Forlani, her try three minutes into the second half tieing the score. Then, mid-way through the half hooker Elodie Houllé won a strike against the head, which ultimately lead to a penalty try and a 17-10 win.

Finally in Paris a brace of tries by Seraphine Okemba gave visitors Toulouse an early 0-12 lead. However three tries for hosts Bobigny pulled the score back to 15-18 at half time before an interception try allowed them to pull ahead. But Toulose were not finished, and a converted try from Marion Peyronnet levelled the scores to end the game a 25-25 draw.

CLUB

P

W

D

L

PD

B

F

PTS

1

LILLE METROPOLE RC VILLENEUVOIS

5

4

1

0

120

4

0

22

2

MONTPELLIER R C

5

3

1

1

110

4

0

18

2

BLAGNAC SAINT ORENS RUGBY FEMININ

5

4

0

1

20

2

0

18

4

STADE TOULOUSAIN RUGBY FEMININ

5

3

1

1

65

2

0

16

5

A C BOBIGNY 93 RUGBY

5

2

1

2

0

3

0

13

6

STADE RENNAIS RUGBY

5

2

0

3

-14

3

0

11

7

L OVALIE CAENNAISE

5

0

0

5

-176

0

0

0

8

U S A P XV FEMININ ROUSSILLON

5

0

0

5

-125

0

5

-10