Montpellier (AFP)
Montpellier, after three losses and a draw, revived by returning to victory at the expense of Brive (29-26), Saturday at GGL Stadium, on the occasion of the 13th day of Top 14.
Thanks to their fifth success of the season, Xavier Garbajosa's team temporarily climbs to 5th place pending the meetings of Toulon and Toulouse, Sunday, at the end of the day.
The MHR ended a series of four unsuccessful matches in all competitions, but did not really reassure themselves against revenge Brivistes after their rout at home in front of Racing 92.
Montpellier had to wait the last five minutes and the second try, entered by the young Thomas Darmon, who replaced Nemani Nadolo injured in the thigh (14), to ensure a slow and contested success to the end.
Brive managed a good result in snatching the defensive bonus in the final minute trial against Thomas Larnjeira (80). The CAB thus preserves its 9th place with seven points ahead of Agen, barrage specialist, and nine on the French Stadium, which receives Toulouse.
Master of conquest and occupation of the land, the MHR clearly dominated the first period. Failing to materialize his many opportunities, especially on the balloons carried, he deferred to the effectiveness of his new scorer Handré Pollard, author of five penalties.
Conversely, Brive, united in defense, showed a rare realism to exploit perfectly against. Following a balloon lost from the back Anthony Bouthier, the Corrèze team scored the only attempt in the first act through their Irish back Rory Scholes (38).
Montpellier came out of it thanks to its flashes, as on the test registered as of the resumption by Bouthier (42) or that of the Darmon center, marked at the end of the match (76). However, he never displayed enough mastery to shelter himself from a brivist team.
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