Toulon win 24-11 against Perpignan at the Stade Aimé-Giral!
Rugby Club Toulonnais won their first away game of the season, last Sunday, in Perpignan, on Day 18 of the Top 14.
Toulon had to build up on the victory against Pau and grab a first away win this season, in Catalonia. The early part of the game was difficult for our men in red and black, who did not have much possession and had to resist the attacks of the home team. Fly-half Enzo Selponi converted a penalty and, at the 13th minute, Perpignan found an opening, as Karl Chateau passed the ball to J. Bousquet, who took advantage of poor defending to ground the ball in the in-goal area. Perpignan were leading 8-0.
It was a hard time for Toulon, but the visiting team then had possession of the ball and, after a few moves in their opponent’s side, Liam Messam scored a try. As François Trinh-Duc had converted a penalty a few minutes before, Toulon took the lead: 8-10.
After Toulon lost the ball, Perpignan wing J.-B. Pujol tried to play behind the backline, but his kick was intercepted by Carbonel, who launched a counter-attack with the help of Etrillard. The momentum was there and, eventually, Tuisova only had to run to ground the ball for Toulon’s second try. At half-time, they were 8-17 ahead.
The Catalans came back fighting in the second half, but could not score a single point, as the Toulon backline showed strength and discipline.
At the 51st minute, Enzo Selponi scored his team’s last points, as Perpignan came back into the game: 11-17.
Toulon’s good defending and team spirit were rewarded: Malakai Fekitoa snatched the ball in his own side and the players moved forward. The All Black pierced through the Perpignan defence before passing the ball to Rhys Webb, then Gorgodze, who handed it to young prop Bruce Devaux. After pretending to pass the ball, he accelerated to reach the in-goal area and ground the ball! Trinh-Duc transformed the try and the final score was 11-24.
Toulon won in Perpignan and they remain in tenth spot in the Top 14, one point below their future opponent, Montpellier, who will come to the Stade Mayol on Saturday, March 16th (kick-off time: 6 p.m.), for Day 19 of the Top 14.