Rugby. Stade Caennais hang on for an hour and crash Clamart at the end of the game and qualify

It took more than a Stade Toulousain match on TV or a typical Norman drizzle to prevent spectators from flocking to the Chemin Vert stadium on Sunday 5 May 2024. However, the crowd had to be patient before they could really light up the 32 .the last second leg of the Federal 3 playoffs.

Between a Caen team that tortured the opposition in every scrum and a superb Parisian team in contact, the game was balanced and above all well locked. It was Antoine Giraud who broke the deadlock by opening the scoring with a penalty (3-0, 34.). SCRC had just doubled its advantage over the two matches, as it had won the first leg by three lengths (26-29).

Cold shower first

However, the Caen supporters came to be disillusioned and Clamart in two passes after a touch sent his second line Le Gouis into the goal (3-5, then 3-7 with the successful transformation of Cabioche, 38.) and soon 3- 10 with a penalty between the bars at number 10, in the last second of the first period.

For 40 minutes we had seen the dark side of Caennais, well muzzled, it is true, by the dynamic and valiant Clamartois in defence. After the lemons, we found an enterprising and totally liberated team from Caen. For ten minutes, the time to add three points (6-10), Vincent Léonard’s teammates camped in the opposing camp. But the Clamart players had resources. Unfortunately for them, Cabioche missed two not-so-difficult penalties (52nd and 54th) available to him, then Kus received a yellow card (63rd).

Caennais let go at the end of the game

Caen used the opportunity to regain the advantage (12-10, 68.). For 30 minutes, Stade Caennais were virtually eliminated. But to erase all doubt, his players finished the game with a bang and Eliott Leportier countered a clearance to level (20-10.80), before Antoine Giraud finished the afternoon at 100%, with another transformation.

The team suffered, but its victory cannot be disputed… Now it’s time for the round of 16! It will be against SCUF, a Parisian team, with the first leg away on Sunday 19 May 2024 and the return a week later at home.

Reaction Hugues Roussel (SCRC)

“We knew we were going to be pushed around by this Clamart team because they’re very tough to play. The players put a lot of intensity into it. Obviously, they rose to the physical challenge that we wanted to put on them. But as our first halves could always be improved, but despite everything, even when we are behind, we manage to turn the games around in the second half. It is very positive because the guys never give up their weapons. We had prepared well for this game and we had laid a good strategy, but it was difficult to implement at the start, on the one hand because of a slippery ball and on the other hand because Clamart, which is a very comprehensive team, our task is difficult pay tribute to them, because to have a great rugby match you need two good teams.

Bernard GUYONNET

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