LAST season’s champions Pia made a fine start to the defence of their title with a narrow 18-16 victory at Albi.

Pia owed their win to a 73rd-minute penalty-goal landed by fullback Damien Huescar.

Benoit Albert’s team, in their first match of the campaign, looked sharper in attack than their hosts, whose play lacked enterprise and was often predictable.

Soon after kick-off, Pia’s Maxime Masuaute broke on a wing and Yacine Ben Abdeslem, in support, went over, Huescar converting before adding a penalty-goal for an 8-0 lead.

In reply, a smart pass from hooker Mathieu Liauzun from dummy-half sent Maxime Rostang in, Adrien Saliès improving.

Huescar landed another penalty-goal before having a try chalked off after failing to ground the ball properly.

After Pia added another Ben Abdeslem try in the 55th minute to help take the score to 16-6, Albi hit back when winger Nittim Pedrero came inside to score, Saliès adding the conversion.

The home side  drew level when a high kick by stand-off Ilan Boualem let Pedrero in for his second try, but Saliès fluffed the relatively straightforward kick which would have put the home side in the lead.

In the first derby of the season, there was no doubting Carcassonne’s superiority as they dominated Lézignan 34-8.

The Canaries led 12-8 at the break, following tries from secondrow Julian Ballarin and centre Yannis Ahcini after prop Max Bailey had gone over for Lézignan.

Carcassonne let loose in the last quarter of the game even when down to eleven men as Jack Aiken, Clément Herrero, Georgy Gambaro and Bastien Canet all crossed in a powerful display.  

In the clash between the two reserve sides at St Estève-XIII Catalan, it was Toulouse who came out on top, winning 38-24 after completely dominating the first half to lead 36-6.

Toulouse halfback Axel Palin had a major role, having a hand in the first two tries, scoring the third himself and another just before the break.

The Catalans restored some pride in the second half, winger Timéo Portier racing in for two tries, without influencing the outcome.

Avignon got the better of a St Gaudens side reeling from their 52-0 home defeat by Carcassonne the week before.

But it was an improved performance from Brad Wall’s men, the halfback opening the scoring with a fifth-minute try. Avignon quickly responded, winger Clément Colin posting two first-half tries.

St Gaudens, with forward Joe Bretherton arriving from Toulouse, matched their hosts score for score until midway through the second half when three tries in six minutes helped cement a 42-30 victory.

Villeneuve, seeking a home win to get their season off the mark, fell to Villefranche 10-8 in a game in which defences were clearly on top.

The visitors went 6-0 ahead in only the sixth minute when centre Romain Verdié went over.

Results
Saturday 31 October
Albi 16 Pia 18
Avignon 42 St Gaudens 30
St Estève-XIII Catalan 24 Toulouse 38
Villeneuve 8 Villefranche 10
Sunday 1 November
Carcassonne 34 Lézignan 8

Fixtures
Saturday 7 November
Lézignan v Avignon
Pia v St Estève-XIII Catalan
Toulouse v Carcassonne
Villefranche v Limoux
Sunday 8 November
St Gaudens v Villeneuve
Bye: Albi