Section Paloise loses to Montpellier in its first warm-up match in Auch (5-26)

In their first warm-up match, Section Paloise found themselves facing a well-established Montpellier team. On the pitch at the Jacques-Fouroux Stadium, the Pau team showed clear signs of getting used to the game, losing 5-26 to their Hérault opponents. Despite some interesting debuts, such as those of Hayam El Bibouji and Clément Paul, the Béarn team struggled to become dangerous, with numerous errors and injuries throughout the match.

A difficult start for Section Paloise

The match at the Jacques-Fouroux Stadium in Auch marked Section Paloise their first outing of the season. It was clearly a difficult match for the Béarn team, which showed a still-evolving side against the solid Montpellier Hérault Rugbyteam. The final score of 5-26 perfectly illustrates the challenges faced by the Pau team.

Sterile Possessions and Clumsiness

From the start of the match, the Pau team displayed a certain control of possession, occupying the opposing half for over twenty minutes. However, these balls never really threatened Montpellier’s goal line. Passing errors and handling errors followed one another, each possession resulting in a clumsy pass or a knock-on. Montpellier, Masters of Efficiency Despite their initial territorial dominance, the Pau team saw Montpellier take the lead in the 24th minute, scoring a try by advancing 50 meters up the field. This setback dampened the atmosphere in the stadium as the Pau team tried to react, but were unable to capitalize on their strong plays. The Montpellier defense, for its part, proved ruthless and well-organized. Second half: The difficulties persist

The restart of play didn’t go smoothly for the Béarnese. After conceding a penalty in the scrum, Montpellier once again showed their attacking power, adding a second try to their tally, bringing the score to 0-12. The Pau players, for their part, continued to make mistakes, highlighting their weaknesses in several areas of the game.

A Try That Fuels Hope It wasn’t until the 72nd minute that hopes began to shine brightly in the Pau camp. Inspired by Robson, who opted to kick over the defense, Aymeric Luc emerged victorious, winning the race for Section Paloise’s only try. This burst of pride was short-lived, however, as Montpellier regained the upper hand until the final whistle (5-26). Matchday and Injuries Already heavily penalized by the scoreline,

Section Paloise

also suffered some early and worrying exits with injuries to Rémi Picquette, Jon Zabala, Clément Paul, and Hayam El Bibouji, further complicating the team’s preseason.

However, fans will remain hopeful, focusing on the upcoming warm-up matches that will allow the players to strengthen their cohesion and solidity before the start of the season.