Rugby, National (friendly): CA Périgueux has difficulty finishing its preparation

No dress rehearsal, that's what general manager Didier Casadéi assured before this third friendly match. However, one week before the start of the National Championship (first match, Saturday, August 23 against Rennes), Périgueux had to put on a good showing against Langon, former opponents last season and relegated to National 2.

Too messy

The aim of this match was to test the players, those who had already played the first two preparation matches and those who were returning to the competition, such as Freddie Hickes or Anderson Neisen, who had returned from injuries.

The least we can say is that in Souillac against Albi, the CAP did not have a good first half, that in Dantou, against Niort, last week, the first act was also messy, but this Friday, the first 40 minutes were not at the level of the National.

And it was a lesser evil when Périgueux were "only" seven points behind Langon at halftime (7-14). In 40 minutes, the Périgourdins only entered the Langonnais' 22-meter line four times. The first was a lost maul. The second was a dropped ball, kicked by Lavernhe, who then knocked on. The third time came timidly in the 35th minute and the fourth was the right one with a try by Cyril Couturier (40th minute). But before that, Langon had cooled the Rongiéras with a try from Wallraf (8th minute) and another in the 38th minute, by Bourdieu, concluding a fine sequence of play.

More offensive and less undisciplined, Langon therefore logically took the lead.

Stung to the quick

Angry and wound up like clocks by the coaches at halftime, the Capistes were quick to find a solution to get back in the game. It was Sacha Rosenberg who scored and Kotze who converted (14-14, 46th). Ten minutes later, the CAP did it again. First with Lavergne who scored, but the referee saw a knock-on and disallowed the try to regain an advantage. Then, in force, it was Freddie Hickes who went for it (21-14). Périgueux took the lead after almost an hour of play.

"It's tough today," could be heard from the stands. The heat wasn't helping matters, but the Périgourdins were getting back on track by initially being penalized less. With their veterans, Amosa and Lavergne, the CAP got back on track and in the 69th minute, Vieilledent finished off a great move (28-14).

As in the other friendly matches, Périgueux finished the match much better than it had started. This new Storm try with one minute left in the match is proof of this. Although it's anecdotal, Théo Fauguerolles scored his first points in the CAP colors (35-14, 79th). What is certain is that next week promises to be productive, given the number of areas that caused problems for the Capistes this Friday. But the CAP ended with another victory, a 100% friendly.

Technical sheet

Périgueux 35 – Langon 14 At the Francis-Rongiéras stadium (around 600 spectators) Arbitrated by Mr. Albuisson Half-time: 7-14 for Langon For Périgueux: 5 tries from Couturier (40th), Rosenberg (46th), Hickes (56th), Vieilledent (69th), Storm (79th), 5 conversions from Hutley (40th), Kotze (46th, 56th, 69th), Fauguerolles (79th) The team: Scholes, Camou, Lavernhe, Couturier, Giresse, Hutley, Bordenave, Merigan, Amosa (cap), Bouthier, Willemse, Fourès, Hughes, Lançon, Tindilière. Entered into play: Vidal, Pelmard, Leiataua, Lavergne, Vieilledent, Lambert, Rosenberg, Storm, Faltrept, Kotze, Hickes, Tejerina, Boyer, Fouillade, Neisen, Dulucq, Ferreira, Roussel, Fauguerolles. For Langon: 2 tries from Wallraf (8th), Bourdieu (38th), 2 conversions from Domercq (8th, 38th)