Two draws, two clashes and two leaders pulling clear.

Nantes eight from eight, Langon fall at Annonay

Stade Nantais remain the only unbeaten club in Nationale 2: eight wins from eight after a 38-8 defeat of Rumilly, with six tries, including a double from Louis-Marie Suta and the season’s sixth from Arthur Onesime. Nantes have the best defence in pool 1 (114 points conceded) and now lead by seven points.

Second-placed Stade Langonnais lost at Annonay (24-16) without a bonus point, with the gap now over seven points. Tevita Boseiwaqa, Earvin Mampuya and Aurélien Depoux scored for the Ardèche side, who climb to 3rd, level with Servette. The Geneva side were held by Salles (26-26), who came back thanks to second-half tries from Simon Labouyrie and Antoine Escrouzailles.

Another draw came in Mâcon, where Josaia Cama levelled in the 80th minute against Stade Métropolitain (19-19). Floirac beat Drancy (27-10) and Saint-Médard-en-Jalles won against Marmande (22-13). Drancy and Marmande, docked two points for Espoirs team forfeits, occupy the bottom two places.

Aubenas win the clash, Nîmes put 38 points on Valence d’Agen

In pool 2, Aubenas beat their closest rivals Graulhet (16-13) thanks to a try from Louis Larroude just before half-time. The Tarn side take the defensive bonus point, but sit seven points back.

Nîmes have the pool’s best attack with 37 tries. The Gard side scored six against Valence d’Agen (38-17), including a double from Axel Malaret, and move up to 3rd. Auch beat Saint-Jean-de-Luz (34-15) with four tries despite a red card for Clément Perusin (56th minute). The two clubs share 4th place.

Mauléon came from behind to beat Fleurance (31-28) with two late tries, from Dorian Ciosse (70th) and Moïse Ntsama (77th). Peyrehorade won at Tricastin (21-10) with Louis Ortolan’s seventh try of the season, the second-top try scorer in Nationale 2 behind Bastien Beffara (Langon, 8). At Tyrosse, La Seyne lost 42-17 with two more red cards.

Pandolfo, top points scorer

According to FFR match sheets, Hugo Pandolfo (Rumilly) is Nationale 2’s top points scorer with 94 points, including five tries. He is ahead of Roman Aleyrangues (Annonay, 85) and Thomas Daubas (Saint-Jean-de-Luz, 77). Among try scorers, Bastien Beffara (Langon, 8 tries) leads Louis Ortolan (Peyrehorade, 7) and Arthur Onesime (Stade Nantais, 6).

Round 8 results

Pool 1

Home Score Away
Stade Nantais 38-8 Rumilly
Annonay 24-16 Stade Langonnais
Servette Genève 26-26 Salles
Mâcon 19-19 Stade Métropolitain
Floirac 27-10 Drancy
Saint-Médard-en-Jalles 22-13 Marmande

Pool 2

Home Score Away
Aubenas 16-13 Graulhet
Auch 34-15 Saint-Jean-de-Luz
Valence d’Agen 17-38 Nîmes
Tyrosse 42-17 La Seyne
Tricastin 10-21 Peyrehorade
Mauléon 31-28 Fleurance

Standings after eight rounds

Pool 1

# Team P W D L Diff. Pts
1 Stade Nantais 8 8 0 0 +187 39
2 Stade Langonnais 8 6 0 2 +91 32
3 Annonay 8 5 0 3 +53 25
3 Servette Genève 8 4 2 2 +20 25
5 Floirac 8 4 0 4 +15 22
6 Rumilly 8 4 0 4 +3 21
7 Salles 8 3 1 4 -32 17
8 Stade Métropolitain 8 2 2 4 -50 16
9 Saint-Médard-en-Jalles 8 3 0 5 -95 15
10 Mâcon 8 1 2 5 -40 14
11 Drancy 8 2 1 5 -73 11
12 Marmande 8 2 0 6 -79 10

Pool 2

# Team P W D L Diff. Pts
1 Aubenas 8 7 0 1 +83 34
2 Graulhet 8 6 0 2 +18 27
3 Nîmes 8 5 0 3 +79 26
4 Auch 8 4 1 3 +98 25
4 Saint-Jean-de-Luz 8 5 0 3 +5 25
6 Tyrosse 8 4 0 4 +96 24
7 Valence d’Agen 8 5 0 3 -23 22
8 Mauléon 8 4 0 4 -45 20
9 Peyrehorade 8 3 0 5 -32 17
10 Fleurance 8 2 1 5 -48 15
11 Tricastin 8 1 0 7 -95 8
12 La Seyne 8 1 0 7 -136 4

Official FFR standings, including penalties.

Key numbers

8 from 8 wins for Stade Nantais, the only unbeaten side

7 pts lead for both Nantes and Aubenas at the top of their pool

37 tries for Nîmes, the best attack in pool 2

94 points for Hugo Pandolfo, the top points scorer

Félix Lapoussière
Journaliste