Forgotten penalty leaves amateur game in limbo

With those three points, Saint-Marcellin would have won 27-26 at Guilherand-Granges in round 6 of Fédérale 3. The federation has not yet ratified the result.

Given by the referee, not on the sheet

Rugbyrama watched the match video. Early in the second half, around the 48th minute by its count, fly-half Axel Paramelle kicked a penalty from twenty metres in front of the posts. Both touch judges raised their flags, the referee awarded it and Crussol kicked off. But the federation’s match official did not record it, and the referee was not keeping the score. In that case only the official’s count and the match sheet are valid.

Scoreboard changed late on

Trailing 16-9 at half-time, Saint-Marcellin led 27-16 after an hour. Crussol scored a converted try four minutes from time. Crussol president Olivier Gatto says the official then asked him to display the official score, 23-24.

One point down, Crussol went for goal from halfway and hit the crossbar. After a fight and one sending-off on each side, Brandon Bellerre kicked the last penalty: 26-24.

“The mistake distorted the game”

“Logically, we won the game”, said Saint-Marcellin president Julien Astruc, who has sent the videos to the federation. He admits, though, that four points down, Crussol would probably have kicked for the corner. “Both teams can say this mistake distorted the game.” Olivier Gatto concedes that “if we won, it is not a pretty win”.