Mont-de-Marsan, this year’s favorite in the Pro D2 rugby championship, has already placed itself in orbit on the first day by beating Aurillac 40-18, the promoted Soyaux-Angoulême succeeding in its entry by beating Vannes narrowly (31 -30).
The Montois are therefore starting their season well by scoring a total of 5 tries, including a penalty and pocketing the offensive bonus.
The other promoted, Massy, lost at home to Rouen 40-26 but scored as many tries (4) as his opponent while conceding 12 penalty points without scoring any.
The victory of Soyaux-Angoulême was acquired one minute from the end of regulation time thanks to a converted try which allowed the newcomers to beat Vannes on the wire, the Bretons being able to console themselves, meagerly, with the point of the defensive bonus .
Colomiers also placed well from the opening day by winning easily in Carcassonne 24 to 6 by registering two tries.
In the last match of the evening, Provence Rugby and Agen fought just at the end, the Agenais winning at the finish at the Maurice-David stadium 19-17 despite the forcing of the Provencaux in the last minutes.
Results of the matches of the 1st day of Pro D2 rugby played on Thursday and Friday:
Thursday August 25
Biarritz – Oyonnax (bd) 18 – 14
Friday August 26
Massy – Rouen 26 – 40
Soyaux-Angoulême – Vannes (bd) 31 – 30
Grenoble – Béziers (bd) 19 – 15
Mont-de-Marsan (bo) – Aurillac 40 – 18
Colomiers – Carcassonne 24 – 6
Montauban-Nevers 29 – 20
Provence Rugby (bd) – Agen 17 – 19
Ranking :
Pts J G N P pp pc dif Bon
1. Mont-de-Marsan 5 1 1 0 0 40 18 22 1
2. Colomiers 4 1 1 0 0 24 6 18 0
3. Rouen 4 1 1 0 0 40 26 14 0
4. Montauban 4 1 1 0 0 29 20 9 0
5. Grenoble 4 1 1 0 0 19 15 4 0
6. Biarritz 4 1 1 0 0 18 14 4 0
7. Agen 4 1 1 0 0 19 17 2 0
8. Soyaux-Angouleme 4 1 1 0 0 31 30 1 0
9. Valves 1 1 0 0 1 30 31 -1 1
10. Provence Rugby 1
1 1 0 0 1 17 19 -2 1
11. Beziers 1 1 0 0 1 15 19 -4 1
12. Oyonnax 1 1 0 0 1 14 18 -4 1
13. Nevers 0 1 0 0 1 20 29 -9 0
14. Massy 0 1 0 0 1 26 40 -14 0
15. Aurillac 0 1 0 0 1 18 40 -22 0
16. Carcassonne 0 1 0 0 1 6 24 -18 0
Editor’s note: Win = 4 pts, Draw = 2 pts, Loss = 0 pts
Bonus : 1 pt for a win with 3 tries more than the opponent, 1 pt for a loss with a 5 pt gap or less.
In the event of a tie in the final classification, the “field points” (victory, draw, bonus) recorded during the direct confrontations prevail then, if the tie persists, the general difference over all the matches.
The first 2 qualified for the semi-finals.
The clubs ranked 3 to 6 contest play-offs for the semi-finals on the ground of the highest ranked.
The winner of the final promoted to the Top 14.
The loser plays an accession match on his field against the 13th in the Top 14.
The last 2 are relegated to National.
