Dramatic end to Top 8 regular season

Photo: Romagnat v Caen (Frédéric Marquet/La Montagne)

The final weekend of the Top 8 is normally all about the play-offs, but this year the greatest drama was arguably at the bottom where Caen travelled to Clermont to take on Romagnat, with the stand at small Stade Michel-Brun ground packed nearly 1000 spectators in the ground.

Caen started with a four point lead, and a point difference advantage, meaning that not only did Romagnat have to win, but they had to do so by more than seven points.

A nervous start saw Jessy Trémoulière miss an after just two minutes, but three minutes later home team pressure soon put them on the scoreboard with a try for Juliette Martin, converted by Trémoulière.

However, errors by Romagnat now gave Caen a chance to get back into the game. Delahougue converted the first penalty, and then but missed the second leaving the score at 7-3 after the first quarter-hour.

Problems for Romagnat grew as No 8 Saheb was sent to the benches for 10 minutes for collapsing a maul – but the visitors failed to capitalise, and despite being a player down it was the home team who scored next, wing Solène Gaucher taking the score to 12-3.

Back to 15 players, the half finished with Romagnat’s crucial third try with speedy centre Pignot spotting the gap. 17-3 at half-time, Romagnat now held the advantage.

Straight from the restart Caen were on the board with their first try from Marianne Dubois – though the kick was missed. 17-8 – still advantage Romagnat, but only just.

All the play was now at the Caen end, and eventually after 51 minutes the pressure told – wing Perdaudin went over in the corner. Trémoulière’s kick from the touchline hit the post, but the advantage was now 14 points (22-8). Things were more comfortable two minutes later when a fifth try, Romagnat’s pack driving over from 5m, put them 27-6 ahead with 20 minutes to go.

Caen battled back and with 10 minutes left reduced the home-team advantage to just 14 points with a converted try from Sandra Rabier. One more try would have been enough to keep Caen in the Top 8 and relegate Romagnat – but it was not to be. Romagnat closed out the game, retaining possession and keeping their place in the Top 8 with a 27-13 win.

At the top of the table, to reach the play-offs Stade Touloussian needed to win their local derby against Blagnac St Orens (BSORF) and also hope that Montpellier beat Rennes. It does not start well as, after 20 minutes, BSORF have taken an early lead 5-3 against Toulouse, and Rennes are also 7-3 ahead against Montpellier, but by halftime Toulouse have drawn level – and Montpellier have a narrow 8-7 lead over Rennes.

A try soon after the restart puts Toulouse ahead 17-10, and from there they hold out to win the game 17-13. But what is happening in Montpellier?

A second Rennes try puts them 14-8 up. The Normans have a hand on a play-off place – but Montseratt Amedée has other ideas. Her try puts Montpellier back in the lead, which Morgane Peyronnet’s penalty extends to 18-14 – which remains the score until full-time, and Rennes miss out on the play-offs by a single point.

In the final game Lille sweep to a 44-17 win over Bobigny to finish the regular season on top, and set up the play-off semi-finals on 16thApril:

Lille v Toulouse

Montpellier v Blagnac St Orens

CLUB

P

W

D

L

PD

BP

PTS

1

LILLE METROPOLE RC VILLENEUVOIS

14

12

0

2

172

5

53

2

MONTPELLIER R C

14

10

0

4

220

8

48

3

BLAGNAC SAINT ORENS RUGBY FEMININ

14

10

0

4

214

7

47

4

STADE TOULOUSAIN RUGBY FEMININ

14

9

0

5

107

7

43

5

STADE RENNAIS RUGBY

14

9

0

5

92

6

42

6

A C BOBIGNY 93 RUGBY

14

2

0

12

-147

5

13

7

A S M ROMAGNAT RUGBY FÉMININ

14

2

0

12

-345

3

11

8

L OVALIE CAENNAISE

14

2

0

12

-313

2

10