Day 10 for Jean Bouin under the sign of respect. Five years after the tragic death of Christophe Dominici, Stade Français won brilliantly against Toulon (51-24). He climbed the TOP 14 rankings and overtook his night opponent.
When Kiara and Mya, daughters of the famous lost winger, presented Matéo Gracieux, from Toulon, with his first TOP 14 jersey, they had no idea that it would be a beautiful tribute to their father. Nearly 6 minutes after the game started, the young winger scored a fine try following a fine pass from Jérémy Sinzelle. RCT leads 3-7 for Jean Bouin.
This incident was one of the rare highlights for Pierre Mignoni’s troops this Sunday night in a match that brought smiles to the front line. Shortly after the Toulon test, Louis Carbonel reduced the deficit with a penalty (6-7, 11).
The big one shines
Led, the man in pink had doubts, especially after the head to head between Jaminet and Ward and the yellow card against the Paris center. Except at 14 against 15, in strength, they found a solution and Georgian pillar Giorgi Melikidze fell in goal (13-7, 22). Very inspiring, he even scored a double in the second half (43rd), a sign of the Ile-de-France team’s superiority tonight.
With a fine try from former Dacquois Noah Nene and a penalty from Carbonel, Paris led 23-10 at the break and Toulon sputtered. Therefore, Melikidze’s fresh effort gave Paul Gustard’s men more space to breathe. Young forward Léo Ametlla’s effort for Toulon reduced the deficit (30-17, 61st) but an immediate response from another substitute, Giacomo Nicotera, returned 20 points to Paris (37-17, 64th).
The form is prohibited
Then he returned blow after blow. Quere-Karaba scored for RCT (37-24, 74) then Stade Français scored a penalty try (44-24, 77). Léo Barré, author of the complete game, was present in the duel in the air and occupation, starting a counterattack from 80 meters in the last minute to offer his team a bonus. After an illegal return from Smaïli, the big men worked a few centimeters from the line and, moving laterally, found Léo Barré (51-24).
Toulon, one of the TOP 14 leaders before the meeting, saw itself doubled in rankings by the Pairs who are 3rd in the TOP 14 with 30 points and took an option on the Christophe Dominici trophy. A day before the 5th anniversary of the former international’s passing, this was a great way to pay tribute to him.
