Montpellier go for fourth title
French women’s rugby returns close to its roots on Sunday when the 42nd final of the national championship takes place in Arnas - close to Bourg-en-Bresse, where the modern women’s game began 50 years ago. 2013 champions Montpellier will take on Bobigny, the only team to beat them in the regular season, and the first team from the capital to play in the national final since Chilly-Mazarin 18 years ago.
Published by John Birch, April 22nd, 2014
4 minute read
Montpellier will be going for their fourth title in eight years, but only reached the final having survived a comeback from Caen, in a game shown on the regional TV station (highlights).
After a 12-12 draw in the opening game, the “Ladybirds” of Montpellier took full advantage of home turf to take an early 11-0 lead, before Caen stormed back with a converted try in the second half.
However, despite a huge effort in the final minutes of the game, Caen were unable to close the gap and, for the second year running, fell to Montpellier at the semi-final stage.
Montpellier's opponents will be Bobigny, who snatched their place in the final by beating last year's runners-up Lille on their own ground.Taking only a single point lead into the game (21-20) , the Parisians booked their place with a 16-1 win.
For favouries Lille it as a shock. "This is a big disappointment given the season we have had", said centreLaura di Muzio. "But that is not to say anything against Bobigny.We had our plan, but it failedThey had a great match, and countered everything we did - particularly keeping possession.We did not know enjoy our usual superiority at the breakdown. But we will be back again next year!"
Bobigny captain Marion Lievrewas delighted by the outcome. "We played well fromthe start .Despite their strength in their forwards, we held them out and thenscored our first try from Lucille Godiveau. Lille came back at us and ever took the lead, butPauline Biscarat's try pulled us level just after the break.We reached deep, andtook the lead with two penalties to lead 16-10.The last ten minutes were hyper tense.It was all in our 22 but we defended very well.
"Now, it is the final.We will not be going just to take part we want to win, even if Bobigny is cursed with the finals.Whether Federal 3 , the Federal 2 or Armelle Auclair , the club has never managed to win a national - until now!".
However, history may be on Bobigny's side. Although itis rate for a Parisian side to reach the final, those that have got there they have never lost.
Lille and Caen also will play-off for third place on Sunday.
The "play-down" semi-finals were again close. Perpignan travelled along the coast to La Valette with a 25 point advantage which proved too much for their hosts. However, the newcomers to the top division ran their visitors close but could not prevent the Catalans coming away with a 23-17 win and an overall of 48-17. Perpignan can therefore relax in hte knowledge that they will be in the new "Top 8" next season, where they will be joined by Blagnac St Orens who finally turned round a difficult season by successfully travelling up to Rennes with only a single point advantage.
Sandine Agricole was again on form with the boot, but her penalties were not enough to overturn BSORF, who scored the game's only try. As a result Rennes - who had a semi-final sport within the grasp before Christmas - will now have to meet La Valette for the 7th place play-off - with a relegation play-off game against Fonsorbes in prospect for the loser