Paris (AFP)

The Stade Français, the last in the Top 14 for which it is the biggest budget, narrowly regained the path to victory against Pau (21-18) Sunday during the 11th day.

The club of the capital ends a series of three defeats in the league and returns to three points from Agen, the current barrage player beaten the day before (13th), and eight from Pau (12th), who returns from Paris with the defensive bonus.

Parisians will therefore be able to celebrate Christmas with a slightly lighter heart, but the first victory since that obtained in mid-October against Toulon (33-30) was long to emerge. And after inflicting a 21-0 opponent, the Parisians were scared at the end of the match when, countered, they conceded a touch in their 22 m while Pau had returned to three points.

The back of Giovanni Habel-Kuffner, who stopped Lester Etien in the middle of the race, saved the Parisians who got a penalty, missed by Joris Segonds (77th). This at least allowed them to free themselves and keep the Section away from their line until the end, despite the yellow inflicted on Etien for tackling high (79th). "I hope that in a few weeks we will be able to kill a match," said forward coach Laurent Sempéré.

Facing the wind, the Stade Français ran after the score for the entire first period, led 11-0 after half an hour of play. The young opener Joris Segonds missed his two shots (5 points missed at 0/2) and all of his teammates multiplied the approximate passes.

Pau, opportunist at the start of the match with a test on a worn ball (12th) entered by a former Parisian, Siegfried Fisi'ihoï, was even more borrowed, especially on the sidelines, missed or poorly insured (16th, 35th, 38th ). "We do not win the match because we simply have a failing touch," railed hooker Quentin Lespiaucq.

It is after one of these touches that Sekou Macalou will ring the revolt with an interception. At the end of the action, played from in-goal and chased by Gaël Fickou, Arthur Coville takes the interval and goes to the test (5-11, 35th).

Paris took the advantage after the break on a second try signed Quentin Béthune (12-11, 45th) after a new catch of Macalou in the bottom of the line-up. The red card addressed to the ex-All Black Ben Smith for a bend forward bend on the throat of Lucas Da Silva (50th) arranges even more the Parisian businesses which will however be spoiled at the end of the meeting with a first yellow for Adrien Lapègues (67th), guilty of not being replaced quickly enough on a penalty quickly played, and the Lucas Rey test (70th). Until the happy ending.

© 2019 AFP