The RC Nîmes, exterior at night

The Nîmes got confused again outside, at Lannemezan. photo archive mikael anisset

National 2/15th day. The Gardois have relapsed on the outside, where they are doing poorly. They fall to 5th place.

Lannemezan22

nimes12

Stade François-Sarrat.

Half-time: 12-6.

Referee: Julien Camus.

For Lannemezan: 1 Try (Paris 48th), 1 Transformation (Espilondo), 5 penalties (Espilondo 3rd, 12th, 17th, 21st and 69th).

For Nîmes: 4 Penalties (Chastaing 7th, 23rd, 54th and 60th).

Yellow card to Lannemezan: Incamps (60th).

< p>Yellow card in Nîmes: Riou (68th).

Score evolution: 3-0; 3-3; 6-3; 9-3; 12-3; 12-6; 19-6; 19-9; 19-12; 22-12.

Before kick-off the equation was simple. With only five points ahead of the first relegated team, Lannemezan had no room for error at home. The Nîmes were looking for a third away success to confirm their rise in power.

After a sluggish start, the false rhythm turned, at the half-hour mark, to the advantage of the Lannemezanais and their opener Espilondo, author of four penalties, against two on the Gard side, signed Pierre Chastaing (12/6). That was the score at the break because, at the end of the first period, the Nîmes stubbornly insisted on playing touch penalties, failing to attempt them. In vain.

In short, not much to eat, as this first act had been so poor in the game offered by the two teams. Back from the locker room, Guillaume Aguilar's men tried to show a different side. But they came up against a big Pyrenean defense… and exposed themselves to counterattacks. Like this try from the 3rd line Paris (19-6).

Despite numerical superiority, after a card on the Lannemezan side, the Nîmes had difficulty putting the hand on the ball, sometimes even seeming without solution… Only Pierre Chastaing's foot allowed us to stay in contact, and to hope (19-12). Not long ! Because the scorer Espilondo continued his harvest following the yellow card inflicted on the 3rd line of the RCN Nicolas Riou (22-12).

Strong in conquest in a closed scrum, intractable in defense, the Lannemezanais will in fact have left no hope for the Gardois who return, once again, with empty pockets. With the victories of the Stade métropolitain, Mâcon, Rumilly and Auch, the RCN slipped to 5th place. The task is getting complicated. And the equation seems unsolvable…