A week after the Super League team’s sensational win over St Helens, the Toulouse reserves caused another upset in the Elite 1 Championship by snatching a 34-28 victory over fourth-placed St Estève-XIII Catalan in the clash between the two second-string sides.
Winger Mike Parenti and full back Robin Brochon both touched down twice for the Catalans to put the teams level on 18-all early in the second half. Ugo Tison’s try, followed by Paul Marty’s effort, gave them a ten-point lead. But Toulouse, with only one win to their name this season, fought back, as Maxime Tomasi forced his way over and, with Catalan second rower Corentin Le Cam yellow-carded, Hugo Pezet scored his second, converted by Romain Pallarès for a two-point lead, leaving Anthony Guidez to confirm the shock 34-28 win with the final try.
The local derby between Limoux and Lézignan could not have been more finely balanced, with Limoux in second place only on points difference over the FCL. Without James Maloney in their line-up, Lézignan found themselves trailing 16-0 on their own ground but hit back 15 minutes into the second half as Cyril Stacul broke from Rémy Marginet’s pass for Benjamin Tort to score and, four minutes later, second rower Mickael Tribillac scattered some flimsy defence to touch down from forty metres, putting the FCL within four points. In a thrilling last quarter, Limoux half-back Stan Robin fooled the defence for a second time, Pat Templeman converted and Maxime Grésèque’s men went two points clear in the table with their 24-14 victory. Unbeaten after the first ten matches of the season, Lézignan have now suffered three defeats in a row.
With three rounds of the regular part of the season to go, Carcassonne confirmed their position as leaders with a 50-18 thrashing of Villeneuve. Carcassonne, seeking to cement a top-two place and automatic qualification for the semi-finals, proved far too strong for a seventh-placed Villeneuve side. With this comprehensive defeat, Villeneuve are seeing their hopes of a top-six spot diminish. The Leopards started well enough but trailed 22-12 at the break. At the restart, Carcassonne half-back Clément Herrero cut through to score the try that heralded the onslaught. Vincent Albert, Clément Soubeyras, Sophien Bitigri and Lasarusa Tabu all touched down against a leaky Villeneuve defence, with Herrero widening the gap between the two teams with seven conversions.
Posting a 52-12 defeat of St Gaudens, Avignon go level on points in the table with St Estève-XIII Catalan. Avignon ran in 36 second-half points, Australian half-back Jack Payne helping himself to three tries.
RESULTS
Avignon 52 St Gaudens 12
Carcassonne 50 Villeneuve 18
Lézignan 14 Limoux 24
Toulouse 34 St Estève-XIII Catalan 28
Bye: Albi
FIXTURES
Saturday 2 April
St Estève-XIII Catalan v Carcassonne 15:00
Sunday 3 April
Avignon v Albi 15:30
Limoux v Toulouse 15:00
St Gaudens v Villeneuve 15:30
Bye: Lézignan
Dates and times tbc
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