LIMOUX got their revenge for last week’s cup quarter-final defeat by Carcassonne when they travelled to Stade Domec and brought off a thrilling 23-22 victory.
Limoux centre Connor Broadhurst scythed through for the match-winner in the last minute after the lead had changed hands three times in the final quarter.
It came as Limoux were down to twelve men, Justin Bouscayrol having been sent off in a game where six yellow cards were shown.
After Limoux captain Zac Santo sent winger Quentin Crunel in for a try which helped level the game at 12-12, halfback Matis Dall’Asta made it 13-12 with a field-goal.
Maika Serulevu, with a solo effort, helped put the Canaries back in front at 18-13 before Dall’Asta cut through at the other end as Limoux went ahead once more.
Jowasa Drodrolagi, a forward playing on the wing, went over for his second try which looked like the clincher with eight minutes remaining but Broadhurst sealed it for a Limoux side who wouldn’t give up.
Next-to-bottom Avignon pulled off a shock 28-24 win at third-placed St Estève-XIII Catalan to claim only their second away victory of the season.
Avignon led for much of the game though the young Catalans edged ahead by two points with a Bruno Castany penalty-goal on the hour.
But their lead was short-lived. Centre Louis Carré’s try and Olivier Arnaud’s penalty-goal in front of the posts put the SOA back in front, and they held on by repelling Catalan prop Florian Vailhan’s charge to the line in the last minute.
Leaders Albi registered their seventh league win in a row when they came away from Villeneuve with a 16-6 victory, following a match in which all the points, with the exception of Thomas Lasvenes’ 77th-minute penalty goal, were scored in the first half.
Villeneuve winger Gabriel Riguet, in the fifth minute, scored his side’s only try before Albi replied with touchdowns from stand-off Brad Wall, centre Clément Tailhades and loose-forward Mickaël Goudemand for a decisive 16-4 half-time lead.
Still without a win in the league, Toulouse must have fancied their chances in the derby with St Gaudens, but the visitors had the better of them with a 42-24 win.
Pia consolidated their place in the top six with a convincing 36-18 victory over Lézignan.
Les Baroudeurs were 12-2 ahead at the break before ex-Toulouse hooker Eloi Pelissier helped seal success with two tries in four minutes, straight after supplying the pass which led to Paul Marty’s 43rd-minute try.
Results
Carcassonne 22 Limoux 23
Pia 36 Lézignan 18
St Estève-XIII Catalan 24 Avignon 28
Toulouse 24 St Gaudens 42
Villeneuve 6 Albi 16
Bye: Villefranche
Fixtures
There are no Super XIII fixtures scheduled for the weekend of February 22/23.
Coupe de France semi-final draw: Albi v Carcassonne, St Estève-XIII Catalan v Toulouse.
Ties to be played on the weekend of March 22/23, venues still to be confirmed.
Table
Albi 35 pts
Carcassonne 31 pts
Limoux 29 pts
St Estève-XIII Catalan 29 pts
Pia 28 pts
St Gaudens 24 pts
Villeneuve 23 pts
Villefranche 23 pts
Lézignan 20 pts
Avignon 17 pts
Toulouse 3 pts