Top 8: Top three extend lead

Lille in control against Caen (Photo:La Voix du Nord)

At the top of the league, Lille extended their lead with an expected bonus point win over Caen, who remain without a win this season (or last).

Lille had five first team players missing (including Tchouta, Grière, Dupont, Izar, Pelle), plus centre Ciska De Grave in the unaccustomed position of flanker, but were little troubled by the Norman visitors. The bonus point was sewn up before the game was 20 minutes old, with two tries from Estève  and another from De Grave. Romane Menager added another brace before halftime. Caen pulled a score back on halftime, but Lille were comfortably ahead 29-5 by that point, which allowed coach Damien Couvreur to experiment a little. Even so Lalli added a sixth try midway through the half to give the champions a 34-5 win, and a happy coach

"Our target was achieved with the victory and the bonus”, he said. “After the last home game against Rennes (won only 23-18), the girls had a heart to show another side, and won easily. And we are happy that everyone was able to take part. Our young players had good input into the result which is great for the future”.

Stade Touloussian stayed in second place after inflicting on Montpellier their third consecutive home defeat. After a tight opening quarter, two tries in ten minutes put Stade in command at 12-0, but Montpellier fought back with a try from Caroline Boujard just before the break, and a penalty try midway through the second half, putting them 14-12 ahead. Then, ten minutes from the end, a penalty put Stade back in front 15-14 – which is how the score remained despite everything Montpellier could throw at them.

Neighbours Blagnac St Orens (BSORF) remain tied with Toulouse after beating Bobigny, thanks to a try from Stéphanie Rodionoff midway through the first half, and three penalties from Audrey Abadie. The second half was an attritional struggle, with BSORF defending their lead with an unbreachable wall across the field, winning 14-0

Finally Rennes moved into fifth, just a point behind Montpellier, after a 40-5 win at Romagnat – who are still looking for that first championship point. When the Top 8 resumes on the 12th/13th, Rennes face Montpellier in a crucial game that could be crucial in deciding who takes that final play-off spot next spring, while Caen and Romagnat meet in a game that will have a big say in who gets relegated. TV cameras also return for the Toulouse derby, and Lille travel to Bobigny.

CLUB

P

W

D

L

PD

BP

PTS

1

LILLE METROPOLE RC VILLENEUVOIS

6

6

0

0

87

2

26

2

STADE TOULOUSAIN RUGBY FEMININ

6

5

0

1

87

3

23

2

BLAGNAC SAINT ORENS RUGBY FEMININ

6

5

0

1

127

3

23

4

MONTPELLIER R C

6

3

0

3

70

4

16

5

STADE RENNAIS RUGBY

6

3

0

3

3

3

15

6

A C BOBIGNY 93 RUGBY

6

2

0

4

-13

3

11

7

L OVALIE CAENNAISE

6

0

0

6

-190

1

1

8

A S M ROMAGNAT RUGBY FÉMININ

6

0

0

6

-171

0

0