French Top 10: The trapdoor opens…
The moment of truth has arrived. Some clubs are now safe from relegation, but for others matters are desperate indeed.
Published by John Birch, November 21st, 2013
3 minute read
Blagnac St Orens on the attack against Lons
After a three week break for the Autumn Internationals, it was back to the business of the Top 10 for France’s leading players – or at least for those who had survived the rigours of tests against Canada and England.
In Pool 1 three of them combined to cause the first casualty of the new domestic format. Galle Mignot’s two tries, aided by scores from Kouimba Djossouvi and Elodie Portaries, contributed to a 29-10 win for the champions over Bordeaux, leaving the Bordelais ten points adrift at the bottom of the pool – and all but certainly relegated. However it is Bobigny who remain on top of the pool, after tight 20-19 win over Caen.
In Pool 2 a comfortable 20-0 win for Lille over La Valette ensures that last season’s runners-up are through to the quarter-finals, however the major game of the weekend was in Blagnac, where the home side – without a win, but with four defeats by less than 7 points – took on 2012 champions Lons, who started only two points ahead.
It was a game that neither side could afford to lose, and attracted a good crowd of over 700 staying on after the men's fixture – despite the poor weather. Lons, with only 20 fit players – including star player Caroline Ladagnous, absent injured in the first test against Canada – opened the scoring after eight minutes, prop Patricia Carricaburu driving over, Lons’ more powerful pack taking full advantage.
On 20 minutes the home side were back in the game with a penalty from Mimi Sabatier but, despite being down to 14 players for much of the latter half of the first period, Lons held onto the 5-3 lead at the break.
The pattern of narrow defeats for Blagnac St Orens (BSORF) appeared in danger of continuing, until with less than 30 minutes left Stéphanie Rodionoff finally broke through for a try, putting BSORF ahead for the first time. Now under severe pressure, Lons’ game began to fall apart as their penalty count grew, and with 13 minutes to go Sabatier took advantage extending BSORF’s lead to six points, 11-5.
BSORF were now in control, playing with confidence. With three minutes left this was rewarded with their second try, this time from Léna Auriol, before Sabatier finished the game with a third penalty. Result – a 19-5 win for BSORF.
Lons now slip into the relegation spot, and have to win next weekend’s game – at home to unbeaten Rennes. In past years they would have started the game as favourites, but with a squad decimated by injury the team that lifted the national title 18 months ago could be relegated before Christmas.