Clearly, travel does not offer Aviron Bayonnais the opportunity to fully express itself. Unable to win away this season, and even less so at Aimé-Giral where they have not won since 1970, the Basques had nevertheless come with good intentions, in a standard composition. But they failed to tighten their defense and lost clearly, six tries to one.
Dynamic and enterprising, the Catalans found the fault in the 6th minute by their hooker Seilala Lam on a ball carried behind a penalty, a phase of play which they used again in the 29th minute for the try of their solid flanker Joaquin Oviedo (17 -10). In the meantime, their opener Tommaso Allan – rather unhappy on the foot with a mediocre three out of six – had taken advantage of an interception from Ali Crossdale and a chistera from his captain Jeronimo de la Fuente to score (14th).
Clumsy Basques
Sanctioned with a yellow card (Thomas Ceyte in the 35th for repeated fouls), the Bayonnais experienced the double punishment since, thanks to an individual exploit from their opener Jake McIntyre, the Catalans planted a fourth try synonymous with an offensive bonus (35th) in to the extent that a little earlier (21st), the skillful international second row Lucas Paulos, taking over from Arthur Iturria, had given a semblance of hope to his teammates.
It then took all the power of winger Tavite Veredamu (56th), enhancing a staggering recovery from Crossdale, to allow Perpignan to clearly emerge (29-10) at the hour mark, before definitively sealing this success thanks to to a counter from Afusipa Taumoepeau (68th), taking advantage of a clumsiness of the Basques under pressure in front of their goal, who confused speed and haste.
With this improved success, USAP is unable to leave thirteenth place in the ranking, but is giving itself a little breathing room while awaiting the result of Montpellier-Castres, Saturday (2 p.m.).
