It was nevertheless off to a good start and between the 600 supporters of Place République and the small hundred on the forecourt of the convention center, the atmosphere for major meetings was assured. But once again the English have decided otherwise. Back on a missed appointment with History.
From 6.30 p.m., Place Rep, the terraces were taken by storm. Plus a seat. Here and there blood and gold flags, a few waving banners and supporters still smiling and confident. “Of course they will win. I will not make a prediction, it may be close, a complicated match, but we will have them! “ Richard confided to us, from Perpignan. Families, couples, groups of young people with painted faces, and quite a few young girls who came as a duo, like Helma and Avril, both 16 years old, cousins who were supporters of the Dragons from the very beginning “It was my father, a former player and leader of XIII, who initiated me ” whispered the first. While the second dared a prognosis: “20 for the Dracs, 15 for the Saints (Helen) “. For their part, Mylène and her husband Guy, already supporters of the UTC before becoming that of the Dragons, calculated the chances of victory of the Catalans “They have the capacities and the talent sufficient to manage to beat the English, even if the latter are formidable one knows it. If they attack directly our players can create a surprise… “. Then it was the kickoff, a Catalan start “remarkable” according to connoisseurs and in the public, standing or seated, the cries of encouragement, the “Catalans, Catalans!”.
At the second half the minutes seemed to go by at full speed. The two teams each had a try in their purses. Faces started to twitch as the Saints munched on some ground, scored 1 more try, and gave the blowout. There a leaden silence fell over the crowd. Incredulous, stunned, their eyes clouded, the supporters knew at that moment that this victory would not be, this year, written in blood and gold, despite all the fine efforts made.
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