During the first act, the Section was however exactly where it was expected, with in addition, this suspicion of success caused by an intractable defense. Like this lack of lucidity of Chocobares releasing a ball in the Bearn in-goal at the very end of the first period (37th). A situation embodying Toulouse’s lack of sharpness on the front of the attack, but also and above all, Pau’s self-sacrifice despite the red card stupidly picked up by Manu for a punch in the face of Alban Placines.
For the rest, and if we except the way in which his Fijian center unpinned, the Section achieved an almost perfect half-time. Duels won, a stable conquest, and a realism at the rendezvous leading to two tries. The first scored by Cummins, launched upwind by the excellent Joseph (10-3, 21st). As for the second, it was the work of Manu, at the end of a sequence driven 50 m lower by Vatubua, before Roudil broke two tackles. A playing time later, Pau amplified the gap (17-3, 30th).
Despite Toulouse’s numerical superiority, Pau leaves on the same basis after the break. A game at the foot of pressure from Hastoy recovered by Joseph, resulted in a 2 against a bonus by Roudil on the opposite wing (27-3).
Vatubua extinct Chocobares
But as Pau likes to put a spoke in the wheels, a rather incomprehensible helmet shot from Vatubua on Chocobares leaves Pau at 13 (51st).
The beginning of trouble for the Section, logically overtaken by the alternation and by the spaces found by the Toulouse, which allow Delibes to register a double in quick succession (27-10, 54th; 27-15, 57th).
Behind, and quite logically, the penalty obtained by the Palois in melee is celebrated as a try. Except that the first goal missed by Hastoy does not allow the Béarnais to capitalize on their hold in this sector.
A godsend on the Toulouse side, for whom the spaces are transformed into a boulevard. Release of Page-Relo, swaying race from Lebel, and here are the Stadistes completely back on the heels of Pau (27-22, 64th).
Badly fitted, but not completely dead for the Béarnais, against Toulouse who still tend to confuse speed and haste.