Top 14: Pau never ceases to surprise and wins against Toulouse

At the end of the 5th day of Top 14 this Sunday evening, the Section Paloise beat Toulouse at home (13-9) and retains its place as co-leader of the championship. Pau flanker Reece Hewat - otherwise excellent this evening - scored a strong try (16th) rewarding the efforts of his teammates while international Melvyn Jaminet responded with three kicks (14th, 20th, 25th). But in the rainy weather of Béarn, the Paloise Section really shook up Stade Toulousain, struggling to create play despite the presence of its internationals (Jaminet, Capuozzo, Ahki, Arnold and Mauvaka). One of them, the Frenchman Melvyn Jaminet, opened the scoring against the poles (0-3, 14th) before a big highlight from Pau which could have cost Ugo Mola's men dearly.

At the conclusion of a long sequence, third row Reece Hewat flattened for the locals' first try (7-3, 16th). On the candle, Attissogbe doubled the lead, racing into the goal after an interception on Franks, but the video sanctioned him with a foul in the air on Germain. From 14-3, the score rose to 7-6 thanks to the precision of Jaminet (20th), once again punishing Pau's scrum generosity five minutes later (7-9, 25th). In great difficulty at the start of the game, the Green and White pack pulled their heads out of the water, taking advantage of the blunders of New Zealander Owen Franks. the opener Simmonds distinguished himself on the foot, with a first successful penalty (10-9, 36th) then with two grazing inspirations from his right paw, close to bringing the second try of the Béarnais in the corner (38th and 39th). But the match remained locked down, the surprising leader leading by one point at the break.

In the second half, Sébastien Piqueronies' men came back with the same intentions to confiscate the ball from Toulouse, suffering a severe lack of inspiration. Pau invested the opposing camp without finding the opening, except thanks to a penalty from Simmonds (13-9, 63rd) following his first failure on the post (52nd). An amount also found by the scorer Jaminet (73rd), very daring in his choices with an attempted but missed kick 60 meters from the poles (57th). Still alive in the last twenty minutes despite an insipid performance offensively, Toulouse did not benefit from the coaching. The entrants Aldegheri, Placines, Retiere and Gourgues did not contribute much even if Stade Toulousain pushed in the final moments. The local defense, like Reece Hewat, finally held on until the siren to achieve a prestigious success.

At the end of a second act where only three points were scored, Pau won its fourth victory in a row and regained its place as leader of the Top 14, tied on points with Racing 92 and Stade Français. Despite the comebacks of its globalists, Toulouse was never able to turn the match around and had to settle for the defensive bonus point. Peato Mauvaka and his teammates will spend the week in 6th place before hosting Perpignan next Saturday (3 p.m.).