AFTER recruiting former championship-winning coach Joris Canton from Albi and seeing half-back Brad Wall return to the club alongside three fellow-Aussies, St Gaudens hoped for a bright start to their campaign. But they were up against formidable opponents in last season’s championship finalists, Carcassonne, who plundered 52 points to nil. 

Though they lacked four players through suspension and forward Jojo Drodrolagi, who is with the France team at the World Cup, the Canaries were still too powerful for the team that finished bottom last time around. 

With last season’s champions Pia without a match, Carcassonne go straight to the top of the table, from where, on this early form, they will take some dislodging. 

The Canaries scored nine tries, with two each to Djibryl Dauliac off the bench and second-rower Julien Ballarin and a debut four-pointer to full-back Jack Aiken, signed from Villeneuve.  

Expected to be one of the front-runners, Limoux got off to a flying start with a comfortable 48-22 home win over Villeneuve, with Hakim Miloudi, returning from Pia for a second spell, a major influence. 

The 33-year-old half-back was involved in four tries despite a spell in the sin-bin. At 24-0 at half-time, Limoux had done enough to ensure the three points but they were matched in the second half as Villeneuve came back to score 22 points.

Another top-four favourite, Albi, cantered to a 48-14 win at Toulouse. It was not until the half-hour that Albi centre Clément Tailhades went over for the first try, but after that the points came thick and fast. With a host of newcomers in their side, including Aussie full back Matt Soper-Lawler, the visitors posted nine tries to the home side’s two. 

Lézignan’s new coaching duo, Rémi Casty and Thomas Valette, saw their side undone by St Estève-XIII Catalan, the team they left behind, now under the guidance of former Avignon coach Liam Duffy. 

Seven minutes into the second period, Lézignan drew level with the Catalans when winger Mathias Bousquet crossed and converted. Earlier St Estève winger Timéo Portier had gone over twice, with Dragons forward Chris Satae coming off the bench to crash over in between. 

But the Catalans had the match-winner in the shape of full back Samy Devoyon, who twice touched down in the last four minutes, first from a kick and then from a fine individual effort, for a 28-18 victory.

At Villefranche there was no winning start for new coaches Vlad Nikolic and ex-Toulouse stand-off Jonno Ford, whose side went down 18-17 to a last-minute Avignon penalty.

Results
Saturday 24 October
Lézignan 18 St Estève-XIII Catalan 28
Limoux 48 Villeneuve 22
St Gaudens 0 Carcassonne 52
Toulouse 14 Albi 48
Sunday 25 October
Villefranche 17 Avignon 18
Bye: Pia

Fixtures
Saturday 31 October
Albi v Pia 18:30
Avignon v St Gaudens 18:00
St Estève-XIII Catalan v Toulouse 16:30
Villeneuve v Villefranche 18:00
Sunday 1 November
Carcassonne v Lézignan 15:00