Rugby, Regional 1 (New Aquitaine championship final): Cruel end to the match for Nontron

The game went beyond regulation time and Nontron led by a tiny point before Noah Sior threw himself across a Béarnaise attack, but too high to tackle his opponent. The referee raised his arm and awarded a final penalty, which full-back Yoan Borges passed from the touchline after two misses. It was over, Arudy exulted as Nontron fell, crucified.

Mussini's flashes of brilliance were not enough

This was the outcome of this Nouvelle-Aquitaine Regional 1 championship final, as witnessed by the many Nontron and Béarn supporters who came to cheer on their teams. Invited from the first minute of play, Lady Rain was not going to favor the open game and if Victor Lepretre missed the target on penalty, it was indeed the Périgourdins who inaugurated the planchot. Arudy conceded three penalties in as many minutes played and the referee brought out the biscuit for flanker Tisnerat in the 4th minute. A penalty touch then a scrum and Martin Mussini planted the first try quickly converted by Victor Lepretre for an express 7-0 and a perfect start for Nontron. Arudy had just let the storm pass (literally and figuratively) and settled into the visiting camp forcing him to make a mistake. A first penalty then a second following the white card given to Mussini and the Béarnais came back into the game by the boot of Borges then took the lead following a poor clearance with the foot to score a try by Guillaume Tisnerat converted by Borges, impeccable with the foot.

The break was made (7-16) in the 28th, but Nontron, following a brutality and offside, drew level with the score through Victor Lepretre's foot, who found the target shortly before half-time whistled for a (13-16) in favor of the southern Aquitaine team. From the restart, the yellow and blue invaded the Périgord camp without, however, appearing threatening. The Arudy striker missed a penalty and it was necessary to wait until the 50th to see a beautiful attack from Latapie who escaped, well relayed by his pillar Mirassou who committed a forward fifteen meters from the in-goal. A gross foul on the part of Nontron, during a regrouping, gave Borges the opportunity to aggravate the score (13-19). After having suffered, the CSN through its winger Crombach gave the defense a headache and a penalty touch ensued. Warm and comfortable, the ball was freed up for Mussini, who ran in close to score a brace. With the conversion, Nontron regained control of the final by a mere margin.

Nontron got rid of the ball

However, Nontron played in its own half, under pressure, and systematically relied on its feet to try to clear the ball, making sterile ammunition, to the great delight of the Béarn defenders. The Nontron supporters grumbled at this ping-pong game and this inability to vary possessions. Ten minutes from the end, Mallemanche left his teammates with fourteen players and the end of the match promised to be delicate. Borges missed the target but Arudy continued to energize the game and it took a great Nontron defense to preserve this small lead (20-19). On one of the rare incursions into the visiting half through the quality of Victor Lepretre's foot who found a splendid touch, the Nontron players committed a grotesque knock-on behind. Arudy came back one last time in the 22 meters and inherited a final penalty. The rest is history.