GUTSY St Estève-XIII Catalan inflicted their second defeat of the season on previous leaders Albi, making the contest at the top of the table even tighter with four rounds to go.
The Catalans’ 20-14 victory was thoroughly deserved. With Super League players César Rougé, Foud Yaha and Franck Maria appearing on the teamsheet and winger Léo Darrelatour having just been handed a professional contract, the Dragons’ second team looked a more coherent outfit, strong in defence and moving up quickly in attack.
On a heavy pitch, Albi found it hard at times to get into their usual rhythm.
The sides were locked on 8-8 at half-time, Albi scoring two unconverted tries through Théo Guinget and Nittim Pedrero on the wings to the Catalans’ single try from Lenny Marc.
After Léo Llong went over for St Estève in the 55th minute, the gamebreaker came when, twelve minutes later, Albi fullback Baptiste Fabre lost control of the ball from a Mateo Jimenez-Lopez kick and Rougé touched down under the posts, with Jimenez converting for a 20-10 lead.
With the clock running down, Pedrero’s signature try from Tony Gigot’s kick came too late and Albi had to be satisfied with a defensive bonus point.
New leaders Carcassonne put an end to Avignon’s three-match winning streak when they outclassed the SOA by 46-16 at Stade Albert Domec.
After ASC secondrow Maika Seruvelu’s third-minute try, Avignon went ahead through François Dorce Hantz from close range and backrower Rayan Bonte, who went half the length of the field to score.
But with halfback Clément Herrero increasingly influential, Carcassonne took control, Morgan Escaré and centre Max Clarke both touching down as the home side built an 18-12 lead at the break.
Thereafter Carcassonne, aided by opposition errors and penalties, went further ahead as 17-year-old Paul Galy scored on his debut, young winger Enzo Arnaud picked up two more, Escaré posted his second, and Bastien Canet and Maxime Belondrade added to a total of five tries in 20 minutes, Herrero converting five tries in all for an unassailable lead.
With the Pia-St Gaudens game postponed, it was left to Villeneuve and Villefranche to battle it out for the sixth play-off spot.
Villeneuve consolidated their position with a 32-16 win at Toulouse.
Three tries just before the break, from Jack Aiken, Thomas Lasvenes and Nathan Rouillard, put the Leopards in a dominant position, which Aiken again and Lucas Vergniol added to at the start of the second period.
Toulouse prop Greg Richards scored a double late on but it was not enough.
Villefranche meanwhile staked their credentials by overturning a 12-4 half-time deficit to win 22-16 against fourth-placed Limoux, who had beaten Carcassonne and Pia in their last two matches.
Results
Carcassonne 46 Avignon 16
St Estève-XIII Catalan 20 Albi 14
Toulouse 16 Villeneuve 32
Villefranche 22 Limoux 16
Pia v St Gaudens postponed
Bye: Lézignan
Fixtures
Saturday 15 March
Albi v Lézignan
Avignon v Pia
St Gaudens v Villefranche
St Estève-XIII Catalan v Toulouse
Sunday 16 March
Villeneuve v Carcassonne
Bye: Limoux
Table
Carcassonne 37 pts
Albi 36 pts
St Estève-XIII Catalan 36 pts
Limoux 33 pts
Pia 29 pts
Villeneuve 29 pts
Villefranche 27 pts
St Gaudens 25 pts
Lézignan 23 pts
Avignon 20 pts
Toulouse 4 pts