Pau (AFP)
Pau, although quickly reduced to 14, did not miss his home debut by offering the promoted Brive (35-14) Saturday opening season of Top 14.
The Section, which had taken the annoying habit of bowing to similar times in recent seasons outside, this time took advantage of the advantage of the ground to enforce the hierarchy against Corréziens who still believed to get a defensive bonus five minutes from the end.
For his return to the elite, the CAB fell on Palois seeking redemption after their last year very disappointing. Dominating in conquest, more disciplined, the men of Nicolas Godignon logically took the advantage after two poorly negotiated opportunities, by his winger Septar well served by his captain Lespiaucq (14th).
The red card inflicted on Ugena for a charge bend forward (21st) could have made them doubt, but the Palois managed to stay the course, helped by the indiscipline of the promoted, punished by the foot of Hastoy (13- 0, 28e).
Even if he gave in on a test of the Chauvac pillar (35th), Pau never gave in to the excitement. Before the break, Hastoy scored a new valuable penalty, then the experienced Fumat clinched a two-on-one breakthrough against a Malie breakthrough (20-7).
Brive then took advantage of his numerical superiority to worry the breathless Béarnais and after several games, Fourcade (70th) closed the gap. But the hope of a return to the bonus was showered by the severe red card inflicted on Jurand for a fuss on Septar who left the field on stretcher (73).
In the wake, Pau has definitively secured his victory thanks to two tries by Marques and Hastoy registered in three minutes, giving a wider scope to their victory.
© 2019 AFP