Racing 92 began its new top 14 season as it had finished the last: with a trip to the lawn of Lyon. But this time, the victory escaped the Ile-de-France residents swept by the Lou (32-7) in Gerland.
The Lyonnais made the difference at the start of the game thanks to trials from Allen, Geraci and Cassang. After the break, the players of Karim Ghezal checked, increasing their advance thanks to a new achievement by Dylan Cretin, synonymous with offensive bonus.
The pretty Palois blow
At the same time, Pau achieved a nice blow by winning a victory for a short margin in Castraises lands (17-15). The Palois, candidates declared in the final phase at the end of the season, won in Pierre-Fabre where Castres had not lost since December 2024, against Bordeaux-Bègles.
The Béarnais were able to rely on the reliable boot of their scorer Joe Simmonds, best director of the championship last year and still author of 12 points this Saturday. A success that maintained his training in mind throughout the game, before the rear Jack Maddocks came to bring the grace with a 74th test.
Finally a victory from Bayonne to Perpignan
A little earlier in the day, after the success of the Stade Français against Montauban, Aviron Bayonnais won at Aimé-Giral, the L’Antre Perpignanais (26-19). A first since 1970-1971. At the end of a unbridled match, the Basques, semi-finalists in June, took the best on irregular Perpignanais. They hunt the clouds that appeared this summer a little for tensions in the organization chart.
Bayonne was able to be more patient in the face of the Catalan dazzling, embodied by the two trials registered just before the break to take the advantage. But 2/5 against the poles of the striker of the USAP Tristan Tedder and the defensive solidity of the men of Grégory Patat allowed them to glean four points.
