La Roche-sur-Yon obtained its ticket for the federal 2 by winning its double confrontation against the Rugby Club Romans Peageois in the 16th final. Defeated in the first leg in the Drôme by the smallest of margins (21-20), the FCY perfectly mastered this return match in a molten Henri Desgrange stadium, in red and white Vendée colors. The Yonnais made the difference in the second half to overcome tough Romans… (by Loulou, ©photos Seb Moinet)
Who says final stages, says ax matches, and strong emotions. This 16th final had an all the more intoxicating scent as it offered the winner the right to move up to the next division. The challenge is also perceptible from the first phases of ruck with a few frank tussles, warming up a little more the stands which did not need it.
It is the men of the city of jacquemart who will strike first. On a ball that spurts from a spontaneous scrum, the second line captain Romain Malleval is the quickest to seize it and surprise the whole defense by spinning between the poles. The incessant noise until then turns into silence: the visitors lead 0-7 thanks to the transformation of Téo Garavel (7th minute)
Without panicking, the Yonnais set off again to attack the opposing in-goal by finding breaches. A hot action leads to a yellow card against the Roman back Romaric Faure, author of a voluntary forward.
There followed a 5-meter scrum and a first-hand try, perfectly negotiating numerical superiority. In the end, the rear Thomas Renault shifts his winger Consty Bossalot who flattens in a corner. The try is not transformed, but the FCY picks up at 5-7 and leaves no room for doubt (12th)
The impacts are harsh, the scuffles are repeated, the refereeing trio has their work cut out for them at the start of the game and establishes a dialogue with the captains in order to restore order. Thanks to a penalty close to the 40-meter line from fly-half Thomas Geneau, La Roche took control of the match 8-7. Then 11-7 in stride, after a suitcase from the perennial scrum-half Arthur Jeudy who pierces 30 meters: a fault on the ground which allows this same Thomas Geneau to add 3 additional points (20th)
Very pragmatic, the Yonnais score points on each incursion into the opposing camp and are content to get out of their camp by kicking, without exposing themselves. The Drôme react by finding the solution at the edge of the rucks, a good sequence is started and the playing times are linked. Flyhalf Téo Garavel rewards his team’s work by passing a penalty (11-10, 25th)
Romans regains confidence and then tries to raise from 22 meters but will be countered by an aggressive defense which recovers possession in the opposing camp. An offside is sanctioned, Thomas Geneau does not miss the target (14-10, 29th)
The game is rhythmic and will even accelerate at the end of the first act. Behind a good Roman scrum, center Thibaut Tacusel makes his power speak with a sharp run, he punctures the defensive curtain then finds outside the support of his rear which extends to the foot. A ball pushed in “dribbling” into the goal and the first to spring is Romaric Faure (who catches up with his yellow card). The try is transformed into a corner by Téo Garavel with a beautiful curled shot (14-17, 32nd)
After this test of the visitors, will follow a long sequence punctuated by taking intervals and passes after contact from the Vendeans who in turn enter the scoring area. A new yellow card is awarded to Romans who concedes a penalty touch 5 meters from his line. The crowd pushes behind his team and a maul takes shape. The collective work will pay off, the casserole ends its advance in the in-goal, the test is awarded to the flanker Julien De Meulemester. 19-17, score at the break.
A second one-sided act
Everything remains to be done, after three halves out of four disputed, the cumulative score now gives the advantage of one point to La Roche-sur-Yon. Despite the inferiorities, Romans-Péage was able to turn around and prick at the right time to stay in the game. Returning from the locker room, Romans is penalized from the start for a high tackle and concedes 3 points (22-17, 41st).
La Roche then slowly takes the ascendancy of the meeting by imposing his game: the long sequences hurt the opponent who arches but nevertheless in defense. The showdown proposed by the Yonnais near the line will finally be concluded offshore with a straight pass which sends center Eddy Vincent between the poles. First gap at the score 29-17.
The benches empty little by little, the finishers enter the track. The game is now choppy and the rhythm has dropped slightly, which suits the locals who see time passing and a happy ending approaching.
Thursday’s return
Romans pushes to pick up and it is Maxime Christoffel repositioned in the center, who sounds the charge and advances in the defense, he finds Maxence Vialo in his support who thinks of slipping between the posts. It is not so, Arthur Jeudy the 9 Yonnais tears away and manages to box the ball which springs from the hands of his opponent a few meters from the line. A high-class action that allows his team to keep a small mattress in advance.
This first blow will hurt the RC Romanais-Péageois who can no longer put his game in place, wasting too much ammunition, especially in touch, to worry Yonnais while in tactical control.
Red waves are breaking and the locals will score two tries in quick succession. The first by Eddy Vincent who scored his double in the wing position. The next from the back with electric support Thomas Renault, in all good shots: the detonator of many offensives is this time at the conclusion of a counter-assassin, 43-17 (63rd)
The match definitely changed, the Yonnais took over collectively, releasing an impressive serenity and will manage the end of the match in front of their jubilant public. The last charges of the solid Mathias Ruiz as well as the captain with the red helmet Romain Malleval will not change anything.
As a symbol, the sun pierces the clouds of the Vendée sky for the first time, but the 2,200 spectators already seem warmed up by the performance of their team. The young people from the rugby school present in droves never stopped encouraging their elders.
The final whistle sounded and despite the announcer’s injunctions, the lawn was invaded and the Yonnais were able to exult. RC Romans-Péage has nothing to be ashamed of after this ousting at the gates of a historic climb. Despite the disappointment, they have the merit of having remained undefeated in their lair of Guillermoz and have stored up the experience of the final stages, which will probably be used next year.
As for La Roche-sur-Yon, in addition to being promoted, its course in the French championship continues. The Yonnais will challenge their neighbor from RC Trignac who fell from Blois, for an 8th final which already smells of powder. A Loire opposition that highlights the progress of the Pays de La Loire region in the hierarchy of ovality.
Post-match reactions
Thomas Renault (back of the FCY): “The rise in federal 2 is so much fun. We lost there by one point two minutes from the end so we were confident, but we shouldn’t take them on high, thank you to the public for coming in such large numbers and for encouraging us throughout the match. My game? Everything by instinct! (smile)
Jérémy Luçon (FCY coach): “A lot of pride, because we weren’t programmed for that, we had problems at the start of the season, but in the end the guys reacted really well, the group was exceptional. On this direct confrontation, we managed the first leg well there, we did not know what to expect even if we had seen some videos. We knew that here with the world and the atmosphere, it could do it. We prepared tactically but frankly rugby today at our level is 70% in the head. Now, the goal is to have fun, we had planned several stages during the season, the first was the outward phase, the second the return phase, the 3rd stage was the climb and the 4th begins now: we don’t know not yet where it will take us, but the next game is going to be a great party.“
Frédéric Bret (Romans forwards coach): “We ran out of balls and we were taken into touch, in the first half, we mismanaged our possessions by separating a little too easily from the ball at the foot, the score might have been different. In the second half we were in a little more difficulty, we played a lot in numerical inferiority which made the task more complicated. In the first leg we won by one point, I think we could have made more of a difference but hey, that’s how it is. Now we are going to rest a bit, we will take stock of what worked and what did not work and we will try to start again next year with the same objective.
Compo RC Romans-Péage : 1 Théo Farre 2 Melvin Escoffier 3 Thibault Rosier 4 Hugo Raspail 5 (cap) Romain Malleval 6 Mathias Ruiz 7 William Mandier 8 Lucas Combe 9 Joris Roux 10 Téo Garavel 11 Maxime Christoffel 12 Thibaut Tacussel 13 Thomas Chapelle 14 Kevin Suchier 15 Romaric Faure
The finishers : 16 S.Cavalli 17 R.Derbier 18 G.Reynaud 19 M.Vialo 20 B.Perrot Berton 21 A. Roussy 22 C.Idda
Coaches : Julien Devise (back coach) and Frédéric Bret (forward coach)
Composition of FCY La Roche-Sur-Yon : 1 Alexandre Batiot 2 Hugo Berment 3 Anthony Sauvagère 4 Manuel Ronga 5 Arnaud Lebon Rouault 6 Emilien Grisneaux 7 Julien de Meulemester 8 Arthur Thomas 9 Arthur Jeudy 10 Thomas Geneau 11 Ludovic Bertin 12 Paul Risbec 13 Eddy Vincent 14 Consty Bossalot 15 Thomas Renault
The finishers : 16 C. Simoni 17 P. Thibaud 18 A. Staircase 19 T. Segay 20 I. Lebeau 21 L. Thomas 22 H. Count Ducourt
Coaches : J. Luçon , B. Fernandes and A. Thomas
The refereeing body : Pierre Camus (field referee), Antoine de Pontac and Corentin Martinez (assistant referees)
2023-05-25 13:24:49
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