CARCASSONNE 30 PIA ​​31​
RICKY WILBY, Stade Jean Bouin, Paris, Saturday

THÉO FAGES delighted the crowd with his 40-metre field-goal deep into golden-point extra-time as Pia claimed their first French championship in 13 years.

The crowd were treated to an end-to end game that saw ten tries and four sin-binnings as the lead changed hands repeatedly before Fages lit up Stade Jean Bouin with his title-winning kick eight minutes into added time.

Seen as the apéritif before the Super League main course between Catalans and Wigan, this game definitely whetted the appetite as the French Grand Final lived up to expectations in spades.

If often threatened to boil over, but eventually settled down as both sides played some entertaining rugby.

Pia opened the scoring in the 22nd minute, after early yellow cards were shown to Carcassonne pair Maika Serulevu (fighting) and Edenn Rogers-Smith (high tackle).

Attacking down the left, Fages fed Ethan Natoli who sent David Pena diving over spectacularly in the corner. Damien Huescar added the touchline conversion.

From the restart Pia burst up the middle and good work from Adrien Salies was backed up from short range as Yacine Ben Abdeslem fought off three Carcassonne defenders to score to the right of the posts.

Damien Huescar again added the conversion to double the Pia lead to 12-0, but was then sent to the sin bin for a high tackle on the returning Serulevu as the second-rower looked to bring Carcassonne back into the game.

Paul Séguier registered the Canaries’ first try of the game two minutes later after good work by Lucas Albert, Drodrolagi and Djibril Dauliac saw the second-rower dive over down the right edge.

And Carcassonne levelled the scores short of the half-time hooter, smart play by Albert and Morgan Escaré down the right edge seeing Séguier charge over a second time.

Lucas Albert added both conversions to draw Carcassonne level at the break.

It was Pia who opened the scoring in the second half, eleven minutes in. On the back of a quick play-the-ball, Loan Castano charged onto a short ball and crashed over ten metres in from the left touchline. Damien Huescar added the conversion to give the Baroudeurs an 18-12 lead.

But two tries in the space of three minutes saw Carcassonne take the lead for the first time in the game. Lucas Albert darted over from ten metres out, before Clément Herrero raced over from distance, turning the Pia defenders one way then the next.

Lucas Albert added two simple conversions to take the score to 24-18 in their favour – but the drama continued.

Damien Huescar touched down in the left corner just past the hour mark after good work by Fages and Chachoua, and a late tackle in the build-up saw the referee award an ‘eight-point try’ so Huescar added the penalty goal after missing the conversion on the touchline to level the scores.

With 15 minutes remaining Escaré was sent to the sin bin for a professional foul, yet his Carcassonne retook the lead ten minutes from time, Serulevu charging over down the left edge and Lucas Albert adding the conversion to take the score to 30-26.

In the dying moments of the game, Carcassonne knocked on ten metres from their own line and Pia took full advantage. Patient build-up followed by expansive play saw the ball sent to the left and to Damien Huescar who dived over in the left corner.

His conversion attempt fell short into the wind, meaning the final would be decided by extra time and Fages’ heroics.

GAMESTAR: Théo Fages’ field-goal took the award from Carcassonne’s outstanding Lucas Albert.

GAMEBREAKER: Fages’ superb kick secured the win for Pia.

HIGHLIGHT REEL: Clément Herrero’s try in the second half was a delightful long-range effort.

MATCHFACTS

CARCASSONNE
1 Morgan Escaré
2 Alexis Escamilla
3 Sophien Bitigri
20 Vincent Albert
5 Georgy Gambaro
7 Lucas Albert
6 Clément Herrero
8 Clément Boyer
16 Alexis Alberola
14 Thomas Malfaz
11 Maika Serulevu
12 Paul Séguier
15 Bastien Escamilla
Subs (all used)
9 Djibril Dauliac
10 Jowasa Drodrolagi
17 Nolan Lopez-Buttignol
19 Edenn Rogers-Smith

Tries: Séguier (30, 36), L Albert (55), Herrero (58), Serulevu (70)
Goals: L Albert 5/6
Sin bin: Serulevu (10) – fighting, Rogers-Smith (18) – high tackle, Escaré (65) – professional foul

PIA
1 Damien Huescar
4 Ilias Bergal
12 Ethan Natoli
31 David Pena
3 Adrien Salies
6 Lenny Chachoua
7 Théo Fages
25 Bastien Scimone
14 Yacine Ben Abdeslem
20 Florian Vailhen
39 Léo Llong
22 Loan Castano
40 Éloi Pélissier
Subs (all used)
9 Alexandre Huescar
8 Ilai Tuia
10 Harrison Hansen
19 Nonu Tuia

Tries: Pena (22), Ben-Abdeslem (25), Castano (51), D Huescar (61, 78)
Goals: D Huescar 5/7
Field-goals: Fages (88)
Sin bin: D Huescar (28) – high tackle

SCORING SEQUENCE: 0-6, 0-12, 6-12, 12-12; 12-18, 18-18, 24-18, 24-22, 24-24, 24-26, 30-26, 30-30; 30-31

Rugby Leaguer & League Express Men of the Match
Carcassonne: Lucas Albert, Pia: Théo Fages

Penalty count: 10-10
Half-time: 12-12
Referee: Geoffrey Poumès