TWELVE-MAN Albi pulled off a hard-fought 22-12 victory over unbeaten Carcassonne, their biggest rivals over the past three seasons, despite having forward John Toleafoa sent off for a high tackle in the 25th minute.

In a remake of last season’s championship final, watched by a big Albi crowd, the Australian frontrower had just put Tristan Dupuy through to score the Tigers’ second try, converted by Robin Brochon for a 10-6 lead.

Earlier Cédric Soulé had gone through Morgan Escaré’s attempted tackle for the opening try before the centre was yellow carded.

Escaré made up for his previous error by skating through a gap for Carcassonne’s first try, goaled by Lucas Albert, again deputising for the injured Clément Herrero.

On his return to the field, Soulé crossed for his second try, converted from touch by Brochon to give Albi a 16-6 half-time lead.

Early in the second period, Carcassonne closed the gap as Maika Serulevu went over from Albert’s short pass, the halfback converting to take the score to 16-12.

But both sides were making errors in possession, so that, apart from Brochon’s 40-metre penalty-goal, there was no further scoring until, seven minutes from time, Albi centre Clément Tailhades burst through to put the outcome beyond doubt.

Also unbeaten before the weekend, Avignon, who humbled Albi in the previous round, fell to a surprise two-point defeat at Toulouse.

Resurgent Toulouse Olympique reserves trailed by eight points at the break after winger Brunel Trajan raced through to score on the stroke of half-time to reduce the deficit.

Up to then, Avignon had the upper hand, running in tries through centres Corentin Rey and Maxime Grosson, halfback Louis Jouffret on his return from Halifax and prop Saloty Mendy, Jouffret converting two of them.

Benjamin Sinimalé had scored Toulouse’s only other first-half try but his side stepped up in the second period, preventing Avignon from scoring again while adding further tries through secondrow Bradley Goffin and centre Lucas Hangard, Axel Palin goaling both and then adding a penalty-goal.

At 26-20 with seven minutes remaining, Toulouse held out until Avignon’s Grosson went over in the final minutes, but Jouffret failed with the conversion attempt.

Pia have also lost just one match so far and maintained their record at Lézignan, where they won 18-14.

Lézignan, with several first-choice players missing, led 10-4 at half-time but could not keep up the momentum.

Fullback Sam Hill and halfback Hakim Belhadri both scored crucial tries for Pia, who finally sealed it when forward Ben Mathiou went over.

Limoux were 14-0 down at home to St Estève-XIII Catalan before new recruit Jamie Jerry Taulagi took a hand, touching down just before and then immediately after the interval.

The centre assisted three more tries as Limoux turned the game around to win 26-14. 

In a close but scrappy game at Villeneuve, St Gaudens remained winless after going down 18-14.

Results
Albi 22 Carcassonne 12
Lézignan 14 Pia 18
Limoux 26 St Estève-XIII Catalan 14
Toulouse 26 Avignon 24
Villeneuve 18 St Gaudens 14
Bye: Villefranche

Fixtures
Saturday, November 8
Avignon v Limoux
Carcassonne v Toulouse
St Estève-XIII Catalan v Villefranche
Sunday, November 9
Pia v Albi
St Gaudens v Lézignan
Bye: Villeneuve

Table
Carcassonne 13 pts
Avignon 13 pts
Albi 12 pts
Limoux 10 pts
Pia 9 pts
Lézignan 8 pts
Toulouse 7 pts
St Estève-XIII Catalan 6 pts
Villeneuve 6 pts
St Gaudens 2 pts
Villefranche 1 pt