Bayonne (AFP)
At the end of the suspense, Bayonne put an end to Brive (26-23) to a series of five consecutive losses, Sunday during the 16th day of the Top 14, and relaunched in the race to maintain.
Gaëtan Germain played a bad trick on his former team.
Author of a decisive entry, the Bayonne striker passed without trembling the penalty of winning at the end of the match.
A huge relief for the Basques, still penultimate in the standings, who had not known the taste of victory since November 21.
This forceps success allows them to return to only one point from Montpellier, corrected Saturday in Castres (48-17).
But Rowing, in permanent recovery in recent weeks over postponements due to Covid, has two matches less than MHR or Pau, also within its reach.
On the other hand, it is a stop for the Brivists, who remained them on three wins in a row and thought they could add a fourth after returning to the locker room with ten points ahead (10-20).
Bayonne had however taken the best start, leading 10-0 at the end of the first quarter of an hour thanks to a try of Peyo Muscarditz following a good breakthrough of its opener Manuel Ordas.
Without panicking, the Brivists reversed the trend in two stages before the break.
In power first, through their second line from Argentina Lucas Paulos.
Then thanks to the speed of their Fijian rear Setariki Tuicuvu.
But the Bayonnais dominated the second act, with a new breakthrough inspired by Spain international Ordas, which brought his team's second try, signed Viliamu Afatia.
Always so reliable against the poles, Germain, replacing at the kick-off after having to withdraw last weekend, took care of finishing the work.
© 2021 AFP