For the 16th day of the Pro D2 championship, Grenoble hosted Soyaux Angoulême at the Stade des Alpes.
Under polar temperatures (3C° at kick-off), the Isèrois welcomed the Angoulême team in search of a second victory after the unlikely success on the pitch of Oyonnax. 11th in the rankings, Grenoble needed to regain confidence on its own turf against Soyaux, last of the championship and also looking for some points.
From the beginning of the match, Grenoble imposed their rhythm and after having held the ball for 3 minutes, Karim Qadiri found the way to the end (3rd).
A very good quarter of an hour follows during which Grenoble holds the ball but doesn't manage to score despite some nice attacking sequences in front of the Angoulême line.
In the 24th minute, the follower of SAXV commits a big mistake on the young Florian Zupan and receives a red card. The impressive pillar didn't control his weight on a fall and gave a violent knee blow to the head of the Grenoble scrum half, forced to leave his place for Théo Nanette.
Enzo Selponi then increased the gap and Grenoble now leads 8 to 0 against Angoulême, whereas Steeve-Blanc Mappaz marks the second attempt of the FCG on the wing (36th), after a nice break of Taleta Tupuola and a decisive pass of Ange Capuozzo. At the break, Grenoble leads 15-3.
Whereas the Isère team was thought to be perfectly in the match, and Angoulême was reduced to 14, the Angoumoisins found the net twice (43rd and 48th). At this moment of the match and it is an unexpected turn of events, Angoulême leads by 5pts on the pitch of the Stade des Alpes.
The end of the match follows where the Isère-born riders will have started their rugby and this despite the return of Timoci Nagusa (50th) for the first time this season. Despite everything, pragmatic and without ever panicking, the locals came back up to equalise Soyaux in front through Deon Fourie who scored a new try (57th). 20 à 20. Without ever being totally accurate, Grenoble nevertheless managed to score another try (Qadiri, 64th). Grenoble 25, Angoulême 20.
The score won't evolve any more and Grenoble will hold the match until the end, despite some decisions on which the Isèrois put themselves in unnecessary danger and some unfit strikers (Corentin Glénat and Enzo Selponi left too many points at their feet).
The first half of the match was a successful one for FCG but the second half was too hectic and the visitors caused a lot of problems. With this second victory in a row, Grenoble remains 11th in the championship but widens the gap with the rear of the championship and could afford the luxury of looking ahead. With one match less than its direct competitors (Montauban, Aurillac, Béziers), FCG can virtually approach the top 6 in case of a new victory, but the club from the Alps needs to regain even more confidence.
Matthieu Ugalde's team-mates remain last in the championship, behind Mont-de-Marsan. SAXV is still relegated.
Auteur : FCG Rugby