8 replies to this topic

[audois]

As of this morning finished top of the league after their last game at Toulouse last night won 40-16. Some achievement as they've only had three seaons I think playing in Elite 1. Unfortunately it can't last as three others could get past them either later today or next weekend when the chasers conclude their fixtures. SOA have flattered to deceive may be. They lost twice to the Dragons reserve side and two defeats at Domec to the ASC but they are as a club moving forward not forgetting their ability to mobilise support for the code up in Provence as witnessing the 16000 at Parc des Sports for the autumn Test against England. Their U21s also won in Toulouse and are presently in the top 4. Half a dozen or so lads from Avignon area where in the French Cadets side which beat the England Schoolboys twice recently at Cahors and Albi. Great to see another area other than Perpignan and the Aude making impressive strides.

[oiseau]

As of this morning finished top of the league after their last game at Toulouse last night won 40-16. Some achievement as they've only had three seaons I think playing in Elite 1. Unfortunately it can't last as three others could get past them either later today or next weekend when the chasers conclude their fixtures. SOA have flattered to deceive may be. They lost twice to the Dragons reserve side and two defeats at Domec to the ASC but they are as a club moving forward not forgetting their ability to mobilise support for the code up in Provence as witnessing the 16000 at Parc des Sports for the autumn Test against England. Their U21s also won in Toulouse and are presently in the top 4. Half a dozen or so lads from Avignon area where in the French Cadets side which beat the England Schoolboys twice recently at Cahors and Albi. Great to see another area other than Perpignan and the Aude making impressive strides.

yes, a decent display though not really deserved believe it or not from SOA yesterday and not at all convincing despite the scoreline - appalling reffing decisions from an inept Mr Drizza turned the game into a farce - even the SOA coach standing next to me in the press area cringed at some of the decisions given against Toulouse and was apolgetic at half time with the refffing performance.The second SOA try came from a ridiculous penalty decision near the TO13 line and the third was pure farce which had the SOA coach fuming when he saw his player commit an offence before picking up the ball and scoring unapposed over the line as everyone stopped playing only to find the ref or lino hadn't given the foul - the SOA coach looked on incredously when the try was allowed to stand - even the faithful Avignon fans said it was unjust. TO13 who played as well as the visitors up to that point and looked slightly on top realised the ref wasn't helping so their heads dropped and conceded the first half.Miracously the wind became strong in the second half giving even more power to the SOA cause - TO kept going but knew they had been beaten.....by Mr Drizza !
A disgraceful reffing display endorsed by the SOA players and coaching staff.

Saying that,well done to Avignon who played to the whistle and picked up the points - Toulouse must not be disheartened by this and somehow drown their sorrows and pickt themselves up for the game next week

no bad performances on either side but Nicholls looked a class act which will make a difference next season when he returns to australia - SOA will need to find a reliable replacement from somewhere...

Ce message a été modifié par oiseau - 15 avril 2012 - 01:25 .

[BJW]

Looks like worst Les Bisons can finish is 3rd after Lezignan lost at Villeneuve. FFRXIII site at min goes to blank pages from front page so can't see other results.

Saw SOA had 8 out of 17 in the Cadets team for (IIRC) Cahors game so must be doing something right on the junior front.

Might have to look into travel to Narbonne in May as said I'd go to final if they make it

[oiseau]

Looks like worst Les Bisons can finish is 3rd after Lezignan lost at Villeneuve. FFRXIII site at min goes to blank pages from front page so can't see other results.

Saw SOA had 8 out of 17 in the Cadets team for (IIRC) Cahors game so must be doing something right on the junior front.

Might have to look into travel to Narbonne in May as said I'd go to final if they make it

think it was actually six juniors who actually played the internationals but a great effort - the curtain raiser for the TO13 v SOA main game was the academy sides playing each other in their league game and there's no blaming the refereeing in that one,the SOA kids were great against a decent home side - looking at the kids coming through from around the academy sides in the junior LER the future looks really bright for french RL
Spoke with the injured Mourad Kriouache who is injured and one of my players of the season in the LER despite his age and inexperience he looks to have a great future in the game - when I asked him which player he is trying most to emulate and the one player he most respects his reply was...... Benji Marshall ! can't get much better than that ?

[audois]

Well Avignon are still there at the top after the weekends games. I thought Lezignan would get something up at Villeneuve but an impressive match winning performance from scrum half Robin did for them with a hat trick of tries and a late drop goal did for the visitors (29-22). Robin has always impressed me when I've seen him; he had a stint at Wakefield last year. With Barthau - leading French try scorer this year with 20 -improving all the time France have a couple young halves coming through alongside may be Fages at Salford.

Next weekend regardless of what happens to Pia and ASC these two will finish in top two spots unless they are defeated by huge scores leaving SOA in third place; FCL are 4th and Toulouse and St Esteve still battling for 5th place on the last weekend. So Avignon and FCL will host the two quarter finals with the winners meeting Pia and ASC probably. Encouraging to see stragglers Montpellier battling to the end. On a mud heap at Domec they went down 26-12 but kept the Canaris pointless after the break with nothing to play for but pride . Good on'em.
Chuffed about Villeneuve. They've got a young side who can only get better. Having them out west towards Bordeaux and Avignon in the south east its giving the game here a better spread.

Ce message a été modifié par audois - 16 avril 2012 - 11:49 .

[oiseau]

Well Avignon are still there at the top after the weekends games. I thought Lezignan would get something up at Villeneuve but an impressive match winning performance from scrum half Robin did for them with a hat trick of tries and a late drop goal did for the visitors (29-22). Robin has always impressed me when I've seen him; he had a stint at Wakefield last year. With Barthau - leading French try scorer this year with 20 -improving all the time France have a couple young halves coming through alongside may be Fages at Salford.

Next weekend regardless of what happens to Pia and ASC these two will finish in top two spots unless they are defeated by huge scores leaving SOA in third place; FCL are 4th and Toulouse and St Esteve still battling for 5th place on the last weekend. So Avignon and FCL will host the two quarter finals with the winners meeting Pia and ASC probably. Encouraging to see stragglers Montpellier battling to the end. On a mud heap at Domec they went down 26-12 but kept the Canaris pointless after the break with nothing to play for but pride . Good on'em.
Chuffed about Villeneuve. They've got a young side who can only get better. Having them out west towards Bordeaux and Avignon in the south east its giving the game here a better spread.

to be fair Gordon,ive watched Villeneuve quite a lot this season mainly at home (they are my 'nearest' side - only three hours away !) as well as a few times away and I have really been impressed with the performances - they should have beaten Pia but got unlucky at the end and I think a big congratulations to Brendan is in order thanks to the way he has made a decent side with zero resources - the main sponsor Gifi pulled out earlier in the season really putting the pressure on the club which was in real danger - Gifi are now back on board albeit to a lesser extent but Brendan is hoping to bring in two or three lads from Oz next season to strenghten in the key positions.He's hoping to keep hold of Bromley at FB but Tanu Wulf looks like he's on his way to Limoux.
I know they didn't make the play offs but Brendan Worth must be a candidate for 'coach of the year' ?

[audois]

I thought Brendan Worth was heading home and Bromley moving on. They need I reckon to keep hold of Villegas with Robin at half back . Their U21s though very poor and rock bottom this term. They need to build that up too. I understand that they have Tonneins in Elite 2 as their feeder which is a useful link up but the region needs to develop its bases with more Federal sides coming through.

Am hoping that St Gaudens can get going again next year if only in Elite 2. There's interesting developments in the Tarn and the hope of some type a union between Lescure and Albi. If that means a bigger budget they could get something of substance up there - the interest is there. That just leaves Montpellier which will be harder nut to crack. There seconds have played in the Aude Federal comp this season and appeared to have gone OK which is encouraging. To be fair to the bottom two though I think they have always put out a full team of 17 which hasn't always been the case here.

Lastly the finishing places should see the Euro comp line up on June 1-2 something like:

Fev-Pia
Carcassonne-Sheffield
Leigh-Avignon
Toulouse-Halifax

Ce message a été modifié par audois - 16 avril 2012 - 09:56 .

[oiseau]

I thought Brendan Worth was heading home and Bromley moving on. They need I reckon to keep hold of Villegas with Robin at half back . Their U21s though very poor and rock bottom this term. They need to build that up too. I understand that they have Tonneins in Elite 2 as their feeder which is a useful link up but the region needs to develop its bases with more Federal sides coming through.

Am hoping that St Gaudens can get going again next year if only in Elite 2. There's interesting developments in the Tarn and the hope of some type a union between Lescure and Albi. If that means a bigger budget they could get something of substance up there - the interest is there. That just leaves Montpellier which will be harder nut to crack. There seconds have played in the Aude Federal comp this season and appeared to have gone OK which is encouraging. To be fair to the bottom two though I think they have always put out a full team of 17 which hasn't always been the case here.

Lastly the finishing places should see the Euro comp line up on June 1-2 something like:

Fev-Pia
Carcassonne-Sheffield
Leigh-Avignon
Toulouse-Halifax

the problem at Villeneuve is the main sponsor pulled the plug,mainly due to political reasons and as I understand it from a few days ago the General Manager is giving up his post and Gifi are coming back in to sponsor - Brendan was given the vote of confidence and has agreed to stay another season as long as he can get a few mates in from the Redcliffe area for next season - Rory & family aren't settled in Villeneuve and would like a return to Toulouse though may well stay if Brendan stays - Villegas is staying as he has sold his house in Toulouse and has bought a property in Villeneuve ? One would assume he intends staying at Villeneuve ...
any news on the sponsorship problems at Montpellier where I heard the main sponsor is pulling out due to a lack of success on the field ?

[winnyason]

Look it good to see teams who pull good attendances in the finals, FCL, SOA, toulouse, ASC and even St esteve. Certainly this is the strongest i have seen the game in attendances for a long time. The game seems to be booming in places such as Avignon, Pernignan and Carcassone.