Rugby – Pro D2: With his guts, SU Agen went to seek maintenance against Nevers

From the kick-off, and an exit from the camp not found, Bernard Goutta was annoyed. To beat the fourth of Pro D2, Agen had to be clean and efficient on the basics. And the Catalan was right to worry. Six penalties conceded in the first ten minutes, his team stuck out their tongues. Logically therefore, Farrance was expelled ten minutes and, in numerical superiority, the Neversois scored a try in force (9th).

At the start of the match, USON’s wide – wide game posed problems for the Agen defense. Captain Tarrit forgot his teammates on an overflow from his team. Gradually, the SUA regained their senses and managed to put their game down. If Lokotui had the ball snatched from his hands three meters from the line, Lagarde’s foot reassured Armandie (6-10, 24th).

Above all, the Agenais have adapted to the game plan of Nevers. The exteriors have been reinforced which allowed the SUA to recover balls on the ground. Reassured, Loris Zarantonello’s teammates were able to play more liberated. Thanks to a good standing sequence from his teammates in the pack, Loris Tolot was placed in orbit. And when the club-trained fullback sees the line within range, he rarely stops short. Despite a Neversois clinging to his shorts, he tore himself off to put the ball in the in-goal (27th).

Air hole before game time

Eight minutes later, Agen could have broken on the scoreboard. A combination on the sidelines worked all week in training sent Ramoka to the promised land, but Aurélie Groizeleau signaled a forward pass that few in the stadium saw… A last goal from Lagarde allowed Agen to return to the locker room with four point lead (14-10).

Agen played his start to the second half like the first, outnumbered after an avoidable foul by Duprat (45th). Nevers took the opportunity to wear down the « blue and white » defense and score two tries by Manevy (52nd) then Fraser (58th) allowing the USON to take control (17-22).

So, as often this season, Kolinio Ramoka turned into a savior. After a good double between Lagarde and Gailleton, the Fijian reviewed several defenders to score his 8th try of the season (67th).

At 22-22, the end of the match looked unbreathable. Especially since Kolinio Ramoka, after breaking through the curtain, was playing a two against one with Gailleton… at the foot. A golden brand opportunity to fly away (73rd). But Agen got a new winning ball. The Lot-et-Garonne forwards fought for a long time on the front line, five meters from the Niversoise line. They were finally rewarded with a precious penalty against the posts (25-22, 79).

The Agenais wanted to validate their maintenance themselves, without waiting for the other results. With their guts, they went for this success against a qualifier. A nice « photo » for next season? It is no longer easy, in any case, to come and win at Armandie!

Agen 25 Nevers 22

MT: 14-10 ; 6,017 spectators.

Referee: Aurelie Groizeleau.

Score evolution: 0-7, 3-7, 3-10, 6-10, 11-10, 14-10; 17-10, 17-15, 17-22, 22-22, 25-22.

Defeated: 2 E Tolot (27), Ramoka (67); 5 P Lagarde (15, 24, 36, 50), Gerber (79).

Winners: 3E Bastide (9), Manevy (52), Fraser (58); 2 T Reynolds (9, 58); 1 P Reynolds (22).

AGEN: Tolot; Rokoduru, Gailleton, Ramoka, Railevu; (o) Lagarde (cap) (Gerber, 72), (m) Takulua; Lokotui, Devergie (Gérondeau, 53), Duputs (Devergie, 58; Maravat, 63); Farrance (Demotte, 53), Vernet; Ryan (Falatea, 53), Zarantonello (Martinez, 60), Vanai (Duprat, 33).

Exp. Temp. : Farrance (8), Duprat (45)

NEVER: Dumas; White, Loaloa, Derrieux, Camou; (o) Reynolds (Menoret, 41), (m) Manevy (Reynolds, 53; Manevy, 66; Reynolds, 75); Bastide (Fraser, 72), Fraser (Fabrègue, 60), Plataret (Rorke, 50; Plataret, 72); Ceyte, Barjaud (Bradshaw, 33); Kharaishvili (Mudariki, 43, Tarrit (cap) (Hamel, 50), Mataradze (Curie, 58).

Exp. Temp. : Kharaishvili (33)

Match score: 12/20.

The best : Sonotane TAKULUA, Fotu LOKOTUI (Agen), Jason-Colin FRASER (Nevers).

Agen

Nevers

25

22

sports

The starters celebrated

The party brothers in the spotlight

Fright on Armandie