This afternoon we didn’t have to wait long before we saw the opening score. On a carried ball, Quentin Lespiaucq found Yoan Stupid along the sideline. The La Rochelle number 8 was going to flatten the first try of the match into a cornertransformed by Hugo Reus (0-7, 8′). Barely five minutes later the Rochelais were penalized and saw the Lyonnais pick up the score (3-7,14′).
After a quarter of an hour of play, the La Rochelle forward pack did a lot of work upwind. In the continuity of the action, Quentin Lespiaucqwho celebrated his 29th birthday yesterday, came to score the second La Rochelle try, once again transformed by the La Rochelle number 10 (3-14, 21′). The Lyon reaction was not long in coming! Radradra Seedsvery prominent this evening, broke through again and served Baptiste Couilloud which came to flatten in front of the poles. Paddy Jackson did not tremble and transformed (10-14, 27′).
Sanctioned on a ruck, the locals offered good ammunition to Hugo Reus. Facing the poles, 40 meters away, the Rochelais scored three additional points and restored a 7-point lead to the Maritimes (10-17, 34′). Again on the 40 meter line, but this time on the right, Hugo Reus missed the penalty and the Yellow and Black returned to the locker room with a seven-point lead (10-17, 40′).
From the outset, Paddy Jackson brought his teammates to within four lengths of the Maritimes (13-17, 43′). Then five minutes later, the Lyon captain, Baptiste Couilloud pierced the La Rochelle defensive curtain, took the interval and was going to flatten into a corner, his second try of the game (18-17, 49′). Paddy Jackson ensured once again and the locals went back in front (20-17, 49′).
Dominated in this second act, the Maritimes failed, on several occasions, near the Lyon goal and did not reward their efforts. Impeccable on foot, number 10 Lyon added three additional points (23-17, 58′). Reduced to 14, following the yellow card for Simeli Daunivucu (23-17, 73′), the Maritimes conceded a third try on a carried ball shortly before the siren (28-17, 75′).
Too undisciplined in the second act, the Maritimes therefore ended up losing on the lawn of Matmut Stadium (28-17, 80′). The Yellow and Black will try to bounce back next week, with a perilous trip to Perpignan.