Rugby/Federal 1 (F): Millau consolidates its status as leader of the group

Les Millavoises sont premières de leur poule. Midi libre – Maxime Cohen

Les féminines du SOM ont largement dominé Nice, leur dauphin, ce dimanche après-midi (32-13).

Nice had ambitions, displayed them publicly before the match, but did not live up to the meeting. The Millavoises already had their only defeat of the season in the first leg (15-10). Reading the message displayed by the Azureennes finished lifting them up to prepare for this summit meeting. “We have a bit of an ego and we wanted to beat them at home, confirms captain Alexandrine Vaylet. They wanted to take the bonus here… This victory does us good!”

A first try after 18 minutes of play

More than the accounting side of this success, which puts Millau nine points behind its pursuers, the Sud-Aveyronnaises put on a show of style. Fanny Cottier opened the show with a first try after 18 minutes of play. The floodgates were open. The Millavoises got their hands on the ball. Although they sometimes struggled to capitalise on possession in the opponents' 22-metre line, they managed to pull away when they went into the locker room.

A hat-trick for Laurène Layrolle

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Laurène Layrolle scored three tries. Midi libre – Maxime Cohen

Laurène Layrolle's premature entry after eight minutes of play is not for nothing. The Millavoise who has a dual license with Clermont was playing her first match with SOM and scored the first of her three tries on the last action of the first act (15-3, MT). “She was only supposed to come back at half-time, but she does us a lot of good, concedes Philippe Andreani, the Millau coach. On certain points of the game plan it is sometimes different than with Clermont… But physically she does us a lot of good.”

A small air pocket on returning from the locker room

The Niçoises had a slim hope on their return to the field, in the second half. The Millauises suffered a little from the attacks and were less disciplined but only offered a penalty to their opponent on this small air pocket (15-6, 49'). “We told them in the locker room that they would come back with revenge, that's one of the things that still needs to be worked on, like penalties where we can't find the touchline”, analyzes the coach.

Turning a blind eye to weak moments, without it being reflected in the score, is also part of a team's qualities to win matches. Without flinching, the Somistes remained solid in the ground game phases. “We asked them to respond present in the fight because we knew that Nice would be aggressive and they did it”, continues the tactician.

“It was THE match to take first place”

Millau knew how to do it to better start again and string together tries. Enough to validate the offensive bonus. A single interception by Nice gave them the opportunity to score in the second period (25-13, 68'). No reason to worry SOM, who can now look further ahead with peace of mind (32-13 victory).

With nine points, SOM has taken a big step towards qualifying for the play-offs, with the reception of the round of 16 on its home turf. “We are extremely satisfied, it was THE match to take first place, everything is positive,” Philippe Andreani is satisfied. We are doing very well, there are still things to work on to be ready for later. For us, all the lights are green.”

In Millau: Tries by Fanny Cottier (18'); Laurène Layrolle (40'+ 3, 56', 76'); Morgane Zorzan (60'). Penalty by Maelys Déjean (30') and transformations by Maelys Déjean (43' and 76').