Lille top in France as dust starts to clear

With all the uncertainties following a league reorganisation, post-World Cup retirements and a host of player moves this season’s French Championship – the Top 8 – promised to be unpredictable. However, after Weeks 3 last weekend there are signs that the league is splitting into two.

Five clubs appear to be on the verge of breaking away in what should be an absorbing battle for the four play-off places. They are lead by Lille – who are the only unbeaten team following their tight (even “painful” according to some reports) 7-3 win over Caen.

Blagnac St Orens (BSORF) look also appear likely to be in the running for the semi-finals. They have put in two massive home wins so far this season, with just the slip up away to Lille in week 2 to take the gloss off things.

After thumping Caen in week 1, it was another northern team – Rennes – who suffered at Fortress Ernest Argles (as it is quickly becoming). Manon Andre and her team quickly gained the ascendancy with three first half tries. 18 year-old Carla Neisen (a name to watch for) completed a hat-trick in the second half before the Rennes fought back to save some blushes, but not enough to prevent a BSORF bonus point.

Neisen was reluctant to take all the credit for her achievement in only her second game in the top flight: "The forwards did a great job, we had a lot of ball in the backs, which allowed me to shine.” However it was a performance that did not come without a cost: "I'll probably have to pay for a jug even though I do not drink – but the girls will do that for me!"

Two other teams likely to be in the mix met in Perpignan, where Bobigny were the visitors, and probably pre-match favourites after their impressive win over champions Montpellier in week 2 and their international quality backline.

However it was not to be as a rejuvenated Perpignan put in a near perfect performance, with the final 30-5 score almost failing to underline their dominance – if all of their kicks had gone over the margin would have been considerably greater. The pack was the foundation for the success with prop Christelle Chobet (captain in the absence of Loyez) making yards every time she got her hands on the ball, as well as giving her opposite number a torrid time in the scrums. Tetard and Redondo in the second row worked hard around the breakdown and the back row also had an excellent day with Spanish international Berta Garcia having a good game, particularly in the air at line out time while Kearney was put in a great performance for her team without appearing on the scoresheet.

This laid a perfect platform for Sagols at Number 8 who benefitted from a pack going forwards at scrum time and had a good game. Bobigny’s real strength is in the backs – but even here Perpignan had the upper hand with Elodie Guiglion especially giving Bobigny captain Marion Lievre a torrid time. For her first try Guiglion ran around Lievre and for her second she took a slip pass from Horta that was so slick some spectators did realise Guiglion had the ball! She then stepped past Lievre leaving her on the floor as she ran in the score.

The second half carried on in the same vein as Guiglion dotted down for her hatrick just two minutes in. After a bit of aerial ping pong Le Duff then dropped a huge goal from just inside the bobigny half to further extend the lead.

Assa Koita's arrival from the bench for Bobigny evened the game up a little, but there was nothing her team could do to stop Perpgnan’s Wendy Divoux adding a fourth try after some excellent forward play which saw the Catalan pack drive over. It was not until final few minutes of the game that Bobigny finally got on the scoreboard through Ladagnous.

Perpignan coach Marius Tincu was obviously delighted after the game, saying "it was a great day, I am very happy with the team spirit and the girls understood the game plan and executed it well"

The fifth team likely to be competing for the final prize should be Montpellier - but even Gallee Mignot's team were unable to compete with the elements as a huge midweek rainstorm over the town made their home ground unplayable for the planned visit of La Valette. Their game will be rearranged for later in the year.

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