Montauban end Oyonnax’s unbeaten run (24-23)

Oyonnax take a losing bonus point and stay top.

Unbeaten at Sapiac this season, Montauban still spent the whole first half chasing the game. Luka Matkava opened the scoring with a penalty (7th minute), Stéphane Ahmed replied with a try converted by Enzo Hervé (9th), then tries from Alban Roussel (13th) and François Joly (18th), both converted by Matkava, put Oyonnax 13 points clear. The score stayed 7-20 until half-time.

Leaders punished for indiscipline

Montauban turned the game around within two minutes of the restart. Lock Noa Kanika scored on 51 minutes, Hervé himself on 53, and the fly-half converted both (21-20). Matkava put Oyonnax back in front with a penalty (57th), but Hervé had the final say on 75 minutes, from one of the 15 penalties Oyonnax conceded, against 10 for Montauban. His 14 points edged the 13 scored by his opposite number.

Montauban had the ball (52% possession, 171 passes to 92) and Oyonnax spent the evening defending: 153 completed tackles, including 17 by Wandrille Picault and 16 by Koen Bloemen. Montauban have now won all four of their home games and move provisionally into the top six.

As in 2020, the run ends at seven

Oyonnax had won their first seven games, a start no Pro D2 side had managed since Oyonnax themselves in 2020-21. That season too, their run ended at seven wins. Provence Rugby, the other unbeaten side, host Béziers on Friday and can stay the only team without a defeat.