The people of Tarn-et-Garonne have ensured the essentials, that is to win in order to be the best eleventh and hope for a relegation. They did the job, and now cross their fingers.
Before kick-off, the Caussadais knew that they could no longer hope to reach tenth place which guarantees maintenance, and Lavaur had nothing to lose or hope for. For Caussade, the challenge was to win in order to try to remain the best eleventh of all the Federal 2 pools, which could imply being the first “relegation-playable” team in terms of points. For his last match of his career at 36 years old, Pierre Barthéle had the captain’s armband. The Caussadais did not miss their start by taking control of the game, which quickly led to a superb try by Dylan Quercy. It was then Pierre Barthéle’s turn to celebrate his retirement by scoring behind the line for his team’s second try. The visitors, in numerical superiority, opened their scoring with a speedy try from Bouasli. The gap in the score widened before halftime with the superb try from Baptiste Auzuech (27-7).
A very long stoppage due to injury
The return from halftime was difficult for the locals who conceded a try scored by Algans, while in numerical inferiority, just like in the first half, and then another right after. Caussade was only leading by six points (27-21, 50th minute). The question of an offensive bonus was no longer on the table; a penalty from Théo Chauderon was followed by a rather long interruption due to the injury of Célian Beauvais from Lavaur lying on the field. The players went back to the locker rooms while waiting for his evacuation by the firefighters. After this very long interruption, the players returned to play the final sixteen minutes of the match. There was only one last try from Clément Cavaillé to secure the victory in the last second, with a drop goal conversion from Hugo Brugidou.
And now. The season is over for Caussade, who with 49 points will finish as the best of the eleventh with a goal difference of -44; 49 points like Les Angles and Navarre (-110). It is reasonable to think that if there is a team to be relegated, it should go to President Christelle Gaillardo’s team, who celebrated her birthday this Sunday. A nice birthday gift. Now, we’ll have to wait for the decisions from the French Rugby Federation (FFR).
CAUSSADE 37 LAVAUR 21
HT: 27-7; Referee: Mr. Xavier Barbosa (New Aquitaine).
Winners: 4 Tries – Quercy (3), Barthéle (22), Auzuech (37), Cavaillé (80); 4 Conversions – J. Chauderon (3, 22, 37), Brugidou (80); 3 Penalties – J. Chauderon (6, 13), Th. Chauderon (55).
Losers: 3 Tries – Bouasli (26), Algans (45), Tirefort (50); 3 Conversions – Franck (26), Cans (45, 50).
US CAUSSADE: Brugidou; Cavaillé, Chamlali, Th. Chauderon, Sicard; (o) J. Chauderon, (m) Auzuech; L. Escudié, Barthéle (cap), M. Palot; Heradi, Betton; Courtiel, Quercy, Roches. Substitutes: N. Piès, Miatto, Robert, Khaiza, R. Piès, J. Escudié, Hébrard.
Yellow Cards: L. Escudié (25), J. Chauderon (44), Chamlali (56).
ASV LAVAUR: Tirefort; Algans, Planes, Bertrand, Fabre-Aliot; (o) Franck, (m) Porro; Rousseau, Diez, About; Gauthier, Farenc; Coustel, Ducombs, Gouveia (cap). Substitutes: Cappelletto, Maffre, Beauvais, Lacaze, Bouasli, Cans, Mades.
Federal 2B: Caussade-Lavaur: 29-36 (4 tries to 6).
