A look back at Round 5 of Federale 3, played on October 17 and 18.

Ten Federale 3 clubs still have a perfect five-from-five record after Round 5, played on October 17 and 18, a weekend that featured three meetings between unbeaten sides.

Aulnay, Montech and Bizanos win the unbeaten clashes

In Pool 1, Aulnay-sous-Bois beat Paris XO 25-21, helped by a brace from Mateo Dos Santos, and now lead the pool on their own. Paris XO, who had won their first four games, left with a losing bonus point. In Pool 11, Montech won 22-19 at Leognan in a game that produced one try each, Michael Forlani scoring for Montech. In Pool 9, Bizanos beat Hendaye 27-18 thanks to two tries from Romain Hourtolou and are the only unbeaten side left in their group.

Elsewhere, two unbeaten leaders fell. Tarascon-sur-Ariege suffered their first defeat, 53-7 at Pouyastruc, where Robin Clarac scored a hat-trick, and handed top spot in Pool 8 to Pamiers, who beat Magnoac 15-9. Juillac lost 23-21 at home to Argentat and gave way in Pool 12 to Saint-Cere, 32-28 winners at Saint-Astier – Neuvic with two tries from Matthieu Puechmaurel. Draguignan were held to a 20-20 draw at Jacou: they remain unbeaten, two points behind Valreas, who took a bonus-point 31-15 win at Vallee du Gapeau.

Metz: five wins, five bonus points

Metz won 46-22 at Epernay with six tries, two of them from Theo Fabre. They are the only club in the division to have taken a try bonus point in all five of their games, and they have the best points difference across the sixteen pools (+189). Fabre now has eight tries, level with Malo Rio, who scored a hat-trick in Plouzane’s 58-7 win at Concarneau. No Federale 3 player has more on the published match sheets, with Jokin Zolezzi Aguirre (Hendaye) and Titouan Roinel (Sancerre) next on seven.

Behind Metz, Gretz-Tournan stay two points adrift after a 27-22 win at previously unbeaten Sucy-en-Brie. Dole (39-12 at Louhans), Ampuis (40-10 against Beaurepaire, with braces for Robin Bertucat and Baptiste Genton), Chateauneuf-Saint-Marcel (30-24 at Rives-Renage) and USO Massif Central (57-13 at Gif-sur-Yvette, nine tries) also kept their perfect records.

Pont du Casse and Clamart run riot

Pont du Casse beat Pessac 84-12 with twelve tries, including a hat-trick from Lucas Tolot: the widest margin of the round. The season record is still Poitiers’ 99-0 win over Stade Foyen in Round 4. Clamart put 85 points on Chartres (85-26) and remain unbeaten in Pool 16, two points behind USO Massif Central.

Four one-point games

Four games were decided by a single point. Capbreton-Hossegor won 25-24 at Hagetmau and lead Pool 10. Vic-Fezensac beat Cote Landes 26-25 with a try and four penalties from Jeremie Coelho, Mussidan edged Saint-Flour 27-26 through five Remi Borthayre penalties and Surgeres beat Puilboreau 26-25 with two tries from Victor Ramade. That win keeps Surgeres top of Pool 14, level on points with Niort, who beat Poitiers 24-22 with four Maxime Daudin penalties. In Pool 15, the meeting between unbeaten Auray and Saint-Nazaire has been postponed to February 14.

Pool leaders after five rounds

Pool Leader Pts Nearest rival
1 Aulnay-sous-Bois 22 Paris XO (20)
2 Metz 25 Gretz-Tournan (23)
3 Dole 23 Dijon (22)
4 Ampuis 23 Saint-Savin (16)
5 Chateauneuf-Saint-Marcel 23 Veore (17)
6 Valreas 23 Draguignan (21)
7 Thuir 19 Vendres-Sauvian-Lespignan (18)
8 Pamiers 18 Tarascon-sur-Ariege (16)
9 Bizanos 21 Tarbes (20)
10 Capbreton-Hossegor 15 Saint-Paul-les-Dax (13) (game in hand)
11 Montech 22 Leognan (19)
12 Saint-Cere 18 Juillac (17)
13 Isle-sur-Vienne 20 Commentry (16)
14 Surgeres 19 Niort (19)
15 Quimper 21 Plouzane (20)
16 USO Massif Central 23 Clamart (21)

Key figures

10 clubs Still on five wins from five

84-12 Pont du Casse v Pessac, the widest margin of the round

8 tries Tries for Theo Fabre (Metz) and Malo Rio (Plouzane) in five games