Amateur Rugby – Federal 3: RC Villeneuve qualify for last 16 after hard-fought success against Mauvezin

With a comfortable lead (+27), an offensive bonus, Villeneuvois started with a big advantage on his Choisy turf. And even with the absence of Fouad Boulaghrifa, suspended, the last-minute withdrawal of the rocket Lucas Horeau, which forced David Ardilouze to reshape his group and place the young Mathys Valy at the back, few observers saw the Sporting Renaissance Mauvezinoise turning things around and creating a great achievement for a team that had not bowed out at home in more than two years.

A one-sided first period…

And strangely enough, the start of the match was a copy and paste of the first round in Gers. With RCV faltering in his sequences, lacking some rhythm and also dropping some balls. But unlike the standoff in the land of foie gras, Gersois managed to score a try quite quickly after a maul from which the third line Pontac managed to escape quite easily (3-7, 9th).

Almost immediate response from the residents of Lot, who on a Darini-Lamataki combination sent second row Florent Vergne behind the line (10-7, 12.). Despite everything, Jérôme Colombinis fifteen did not recite his best score of the season, content to calmly manage his points cushion with, of course, the clock as a precious ally.

We had to wait until the last ten minutes of the first act before everything came to life and the “blood and gold” finally settled down as boss on the pitch. Taking advantage of a double numerical superiority (two yellow cards from Capdeville and Laporte), the brave visitors marked with two tries stamped with the paw of Gabin Soulacroup and Louis Darini (22-7, 37.).

And just before the break, it was third-row Léo Joly who drove the point home a little further, by ending a surplus in a beautiful way in the right lane (27-7, 41.). You don’t need to take out the calculators. At that precise moment, the squad of David Ardilouze and Patrick Hollevoet were heading straight for the round of 16 of the French championship, without a sword of Damocles hanging over their heads and with plenty of confidence.

…and a second in the opposite direction

But Gersois has pride and pride. And the boys from Mauvezin proved it during a second half that was clearly in their favour. The mistake is certainly an unconscious relaxation from a group that has long qualified for the next round. Deprived of balls, often penalized (three yellow cards on the 50th, 55th and 65th), Villeneuvois had lost the thread of the match, unable to prevent the opponents from delivering several blows in turn, from scoring two tries in three minutes ( 27 -14, 47.; and 27.-21., 50.) and even went ahead with a great collective effort from the forward pack (27-28, 64.).

And if elimination was clearly out of the question for the locals who had already done the job at the Gers the weekend before, the big question mark at the end of the game was whether they would be able to maintain their invincibility in their backyard. The answer was yes, but Louis Darini’s teammates felt the wind blowing at their backs against Gersois who could have widened the gap a little more at a high point.

A fall from forty meters (30-28, 68.) and a penalty from Mathys Valy (33-28, 73.) meant that the teammates grabbed the victory in this return match. Now for the 16th final and a long trip to Roubaix in two weeks for the first round, where RCV will have to be much more effective collectively and in the defensive sector if they want to access Fédérale 2 and go very far in the competition.

“We experienced some declines”

Patrick Hollevoet (RCV coach) : “It’s true that we did the hardest part in Gers with a comfortable lead. But we were able to realize that a late stage battle is never easy to win. That’s why I was quite cautious before this return match at home. We faced a great team from Mauvezin who knew how to react after the first stage. She showed desire and character by never giving up. We also experienced some small setbacks, but the most important thing was to qualify for the round of 16. Now we will face Roubaix and Northern rugby. It will be another opponent and another challenge for our team, who must prepare well for this meeting. »

Mederyck Moustin (third line in Villeneuve) : “It wasn’t an easy game even though we came away with a score at the end of the first period. We faced a team that was upset about the first leg. Perhaps with a rather big win in Gers and a clear lead at half-time, we subconsciously relaxed. Fortunately, we were able to accelerate at the very end of the game to grab the win and remain unbeaten at home. Now the idea is to go as far as possible in this competition with this group because the appetite comes with eating. »

Lucas Zandouche (3rd row in Villeneuve): “We faced a Mauvezin team who gave us problems and wanted to redeem themselves from the first stage. It was not at all the same game as in Gers. It is true that we scared ourselves in the second half, that we were pushed around by the opponents, but we managed to preserve our invincibility at home. Now for the next round and Roubaix. »

Mr. Laborde (Mauvezin coach): “We couldn’t stay with this non-match at Mauvezin where the guys didn’t respond with commitment and desire with a very poor second half. I found my team in the fight, the pride and in the character. At 27 to 7 for Villeneuve at the break we thought we were dead, but we managed to respond well by going ahead and missing a match point in the final minutes. In this game, perhaps we deserved to win. So even though we narrowly lost, I’m proud of the guys and their attitude. Basically, it feels like a win! »