Top 8: Champions avenge first week loss
The second half of the Top 8 regular season began last weekend with games the reverse of the opening weekend, giving champions Montpellier a chance to put right their only significant stumble of the year to date.
Published by John Birch, December 10th, 2015
3 minute read
Photo: BSORF on the attack against Caen (credit: Blagnac St Orens)
The opening weekend saw the shock result of Montpellier losing to newly promoted Toulouse – moreover at home. This weekend Gaelle Mignot’s team travelled to Toulouse to correct that error, and also reinforce their position at the top.
The succeeded in both, and picked up a bonus point as well. Eight internationals too the field in Montpellier’s starting XV – a daunting prospect for any opposition – but it was one of the uncapped players who was the star of the game. Young wing Cyrielle Banet scored two tries as the champions ran out 15-0 winners, performance all the more impressive as they were able to shutout the second-placed team (at the start of the game) despite being down to 13 players for eight minutes in the second half.
The defeat saw Toulouse drop two places to fourth as the teams behind them both won.
Lille move back into second place with a 31-8 win at Rennes, though it took them a while to break down their hosts defence. At half-time the score was only 5-5, but three tries in 15 minutes in the second-half, starting with a score from Yanna Rivoalen on 50 minutes, put Lille in the box seat.
Finally Blagnac St Orens moved into third with a big home win against strugglers Caen, 67-5. BSORF, who beat Lille last week, continued in that form, scoring 11 tries and now move into third place.
Next weekend should be a week off for the league, but instead Lille will be playing their vital postponed game against Bobigny. A win for Lille could put them equal top, while a win for the Parisians would put them second.
CLUB
P
W
D
L
PD
BP
F
PTS
1
Montpellier R C
8
6
1
1
169
7
0
33
2
Lille Metropole RC Villeneuvois
7
5
1
1
141
6
0
28
3
Blagnac Saint Orens Rugby Feminin
8
6
0
2
63
3
0
27
4
Stade Toulousain Rugby Feminin
8
5
1
2
75
3
0
25
5
A C Bobigny 93 Rugby
7
4
1
2
56
5
0
23
6
Stade Rennais Rugby
8
2
0
6
-60
4
0
12
7
L Ovalie Caennaise
8
1
0
7
-244
1
0
5
8
U S A P XV Feminin Roussillon
8
0
0
8
-200
0
8
-16