American football: the Nîmes Centurions in the final… and in Division 2!

Après avoir fêté leur remontée en D2, les Centurions nîmois visent le titre de champions de France, le week-end du 15 juin en région parisienne. MIDI LIBRE

In Division 3, Nîmes beat Lyon in the conference final and will play for the French championship title in Villebon-Longjumeau.

Centurions Nîmes 21 – Gones Lyon 14
Stade Kaufmann, Saturday evening. Half-time: 14-14.
Score evolution: 7-0, 7-7, 14-7, 14-14, 21-14.

For Nîmes: 3 touchdowns (Ethève, C. Verran, Natale), 3 conversions (C. Verran).
For Lyon: 2 touchdowns (Paoli Prince), 2 conversions (Mansa).

Nîmes succeeded in its double bet: beating the Gones de Lyon a second time this season to offer itself a French championship final on the weekend of June 15 in Paris (in Villebon exactly) and obtain your accession ticket for D2. A victory acquired with mastery even if the end of the game, with Lyon's long possession, was tense.

The Centurions quickly took the lead with a touchdown from Etheve. But unlike the regular phase match, the Rhone residents put up resistance and equalized with a beautiful pass of more than 20 meters stopped in the opening. The Gardois started again and after a long conservation, broke through the opposing defense through their striker Clément Verran. Weary! They were joined again before half-time.

Jean-Philippe Eldin: "We played three finals, we won three times. I hope it will last for the fourth!"

Very impactful, Nîmes Natale scored a 3rd touchdown which proved decisive. Lyon will push but the Nîmes will remain solid in defense, and even heroic in the last minute, spent less than 10 m from their line.

"I am proud of this team, enjoys player coach Jean-Philippe Eldin. We’ve been working together for three years. The club has gone through many different states: we are rebuilding, we are a family. The finale and the climb are a great reward. We played 3 finals, we won 3 times. I hope it will last for the fourth!"

It will be against the Quarks of Villebon-Longjumeau, who defeated Sartrouville in the other semi-final (12-6).

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