Île de Puteaux
MATCH REPORT
A TALE OF TWO HALVES
by Ben Swift
For their 7 th league game, the British Rugby Club of Paris hosted Gitan Olympique at Puteaux. In a
game best described as a tale of two halves, the Expats dominated the game in the first half only
to succumb in a difficult second half.
game best described as a tale of two halves, the Expats dominated the game in the first half only
to succumb in a difficult second half.
From the first whistle, the BRFC put Gitans under pressure. Their opponents were forced to
repeatedly clear the ball in an attempt to exit their half, and when a British lineout in the Gitans’ half
gave the expats an early opportunity to go on the offensive, they repeatedly dashed the Gitans’ line
probing for any weakness in their defence. This pressure came to bear fruits when the Expats forced
an error in the opposition half and were given the opportunity to kick for the posts. The successful
conversion by scrum half Nick Sanders put the British ahead by 3 points within the first 6 minutes of
the game.
As the game kicked off again, Gitans came back with something to prove and drove at the Expat
defence repeatedly without finding holes to probe. Strong tackles, including by fullback Agustin
Albornoz, ensured the attackers were kept out. Yet Gitans ultimately got their own opportunity to
kick for the posts to level the score at 3-3. The BRFC squad came back strong, pushing up
tantalizingly close to the Gitans’ try line but coming away with another kick at the posts. Another
successful conversion put the British ahead at 6-3.
At the 25 minute mark, the game moved into a more attritional phase. Strong performances in the
lineouts were key to maintaining the British attacking effort and strategic kicking put pressure on
Gitans. Another penalty conceded by the expat squad gave their Gallic opponents a kick for the posts
but this went wide. Yet as Gitans built some momentum, a freak weak shoulder in an otherwise
sterling British defence allowed the opposition fullback to break through and score against the
British. With the try converted, the score stood at 10 – 6 for Gitan Olympique.
The British responded immediately. From the kickoff they pushed into the opponents half, recovered
the ball and then proceeded to put pressure on the defence. After a few phases of attack on the 5
meter line, a chip down the blind side by fly-half Emmanuel Bouscasse into the try zone was
recovered by the British fullback who touched down. The conversion kick may have bounced off the
post but the British had taken the lead again with the score standing at 11 – 10 to them. However,
the Expats refused to let up. A few minutes after their try, the BRFC outside centre JB Lazime broke
the line and chipped over the heads of defenders for a recovery by the expat scrum-half. While that
particular phase of play came to nothing, at the close of the half the BRFC were evidently a team on
the hunt for a win.
As the second half got underway, the British maintained their attacking spree, repeatedly turning
the ball over and countering Gitans’ attacking phases. For their part, the French side repeatedly
attempted to go wide to test the British defence on the outside. This strategy paid off when their
wing was given just enough space to slide through and put the ball down in the Expats try zone. At
the 50 minute mark the British were chasing the score which stood at 17-11 To Gitan Olympique. 5
minutes later the Gitans’ 13 touched down after the ball went wide. While the conversion was
unsuccessful, the French side found itself in the lead with the score at 22-11.
These first 15 minutes heralded a shift in dynamic for the game. The British were faced with the
challenge of a larger opposition squad which was able to replace players more freely and bring on
fresh legs. On the field this meant that, while they were able to set up some good attacking play, the
Expats also found themselves repeatedly defending against a more confident opposition.
The Expats may have been chasing their resolve was never broken. At the 65 minute mark they set
up on the opposition 5 meter as the BRFC forwards repeatedly battered the Gitans’ line but were
unable to convert that pressure into points on the board. Ten minutes later they were still pushing
the Gitans’ defence without being able to find a gap. It was only in the last ten that the French were
able to score again out wide. The try was converted and the score was set at 29-11 to Gitan
Olympique at the close of the game. The British will be particularly aggrieved to know that the result
does not seem to adequately represent the closeness of the game but the season is not yet over and
there is still time to get things right.
the Gitans’ defence without being able to find a gap. It was only in the last ten that the French were
able to score again out wide. The try was converted and the score was set at 29-11 to Gitan
Olympique at the close of the game. The British will be particularly aggrieved to know that the result
does not seem to adequately represent the closeness of the game but the season is not yet over and
there is still time to get things right.
MATCH REPORT
A TALE OF TWO HALVES
by Ben Swift
For their 7 th league game, the British Rugby Club of Paris hosted Gitan Olympique at Puteaux. In a
game best described as a tale of two halves, the Expats dominated the game in the first half only
to succumb in a difficult second half.
game best described as a tale of two halves, the Expats dominated the game in the first half only
to succumb in a difficult second half.
From the first whistle, the BRFC put Gitans under pressure. Their opponents were forced to
repeatedly clear the ball in an attempt to exit their half, and when a British lineout in the Gitans’ half
gave the expats an early opportunity to go on the offensive, they repeatedly dashed the Gitans’ line
probing for any weakness in their defence. This pressure came to bear fruits when the Expats forced
an error in the opposition half and were given the opportunity to kick for the posts. The successful
conversion by scrum half Nick Sanders put the British ahead by 3 points within the first 6 minutes of
the game.
As the game kicked off again, Gitans came back with something to prove and drove at the Expat
defence repeatedly without finding holes to probe. Strong tackles, including by fullback Agustin
Albornoz, ensured the attackers were kept out. Yet Gitans ultimately got their own opportunity to
kick for the posts to level the score at 3-3. The BRFC squad came back strong, pushing up
tantalizingly close to the Gitans’ try line but coming away with another kick at the posts. Another
successful conversion put the British ahead at 6-3.
At the 25 minute mark, the game moved into a more attritional phase. Strong performances in the
lineouts were key to maintaining the British attacking effort and strategic kicking put pressure on
Gitans. Another penalty conceded by the expat squad gave their Gallic opponents a kick for the posts
but this went wide. Yet as Gitans built some momentum, a freak weak shoulder in an otherwise
sterling British defence allowed the opposition fullback to break through and score against the
British. With the try converted, the score stood at 10 – 6 for Gitan Olympique.
The British responded immediately. From the kickoff they pushed into the opponents half, recovered
the ball and then proceeded to put pressure on the defence. After a few phases of attack on the 5
meter line, a chip down the blind side by fly-half Emmanuel Bouscasse into the try zone was
recovered by the British fullback who touched down. The conversion kick may have bounced off the
post but the British had taken the lead again with the score standing at 11 – 10 to them. However,
the Expats refused to let up. A few minutes after their try, the BRFC outside centre JB Lazime broke
the line and chipped over the heads of defenders for a recovery by the expat scrum-half. While that
particular phase of play came to nothing, at the close of the half the BRFC were evidently a team on
the hunt for a win.
As the second half got underway, the British maintained their attacking spree, repeatedly turning
the ball over and countering Gitans’ attacking phases. For their part, the French side repeatedly
attempted to go wide to test the British defence on the outside. This strategy paid off when their
wing was given just enough space to slide through and put the ball down in the Expats try zone. At
the 50 minute mark the British were chasing the score which stood at 17-11 To Gitan Olympique. 5
minutes later the Gitans’ 13 touched down after the ball went wide. While the conversion was
unsuccessful, the French side found itself in the lead with the score at 22-11.
These first 15 minutes heralded a shift in dynamic for the game. The British were faced with the
challenge of a larger opposition squad which was able to replace players more freely and bring on
fresh legs. On the field this meant that, while they were able to set up some good attacking play, the
Expats also found themselves repeatedly defending against a more confident opposition.
The Expats may have been chasing their resolve was never broken. At the 65 minute mark they set
up on the opposition 5 meter as the BRFC forwards repeatedly battered the Gitans’ line but were
unable to convert that pressure into points on the board. Ten minutes later they were still pushing
the Gitans’ defence without being able to find a gap. It was only in the last ten that the French were
able to score again out wide. The try was converted and the score was set at 29-11 to Gitan
Olympique at the close of the game. The British will be particularly aggrieved to know that the result
does not seem to adequately represent the closeness of the game but the season is not yet over and
there is still time to get things right.
the Gitans’ defence without being able to find a gap. It was only in the last ten that the French were
able to score again out wide. The try was converted and the score was set at 29-11 to Gitan
Olympique at the close of the game. The British will be particularly aggrieved to know that the result
does not seem to adequately represent the closeness of the game but the season is not yet over and
there is still time to get things right.
MATCH REPORT
BRFC vs Drink and Steak
by Ben Swift
After a very promising start to the season, the BRFC’s frustrating away defeat at the hands of the Drink and Steak team has to be understood as a sign that the squad needs to keep working if they are to achieve their goals for the season. While the expats displayed many of the building blocks necessary for success, when the final whistle sounded the score stood at 22-19 to Drink.
On Saturday morning, and despite a continuing public transport grève, the British traveled to the Ile de Puteau sporting complex for their away game against the Drink team. The first twenty minutes of the game evolved into a tenacious back and forth. The home side in particular used the boot to sound out their opponents and put some pressure on the BRFC’s back three. Both sides got the chance to kick for the posts but couldn’t quite put points on the board. It wasn’t till the 25th minute that the stalemate was brought to an end; when a Drink lineout in the BRFC’s 22 led to an opportunity for the home side, one of their forwards barreled over to put them in the lead. After a successful conversion, the score stood at 7-0.
The British took this in their stride and responded minutes later. Winger Bastien Bonvalet broke the line leading to a try by fly half Kieran Chandler. This offensive effort came off the back of great offloads by Charlie Hall and Davy Portway. While the try was unconverted, the Expats remained on the hunt with the score standing at 7-5. Yet as the half came to a close, they gave the Drink team a chance to pull ahead. A penalty against the British awarded for a high tackle gave the home side a chance to kick for the posts which they happily took. At half time, the Drink team led the British 10-5.
When the BRFC kicked off, the Expats looked to turn the situation to their advantage. Flanker Constantin De Langautier’s kick chase led to the ball been recovered by the visitors in the Drink half and the British surged forward. Yet, BRFC attacking plays were repeatedly stunted by penalties which allowed their opponents too many opportunities. This included a kick at British posts, which went wide, and a yellow card against the expats early in the second half.
Drink demonstrated the ability to put this self-inflicted pressure on the British to use. A scrum to the home side 5 meters out from the British line put them in a good position to cross the line, making the score 17-5 after the try was converted. The British responded by putting their own points on the board. Sustained pressure by the expat forwards gave Kieran Chandler his second chance to dart through Drink’s defensive line and score another 5 points for the BRFC. With the try successfully converted, the British had kept themselves in contention with a score of 17-12 to Drink.
Ultimately, penalties continued to take their toll on the BRFC and they found themselves too often on the wrong side of the referee’s decisions. They found their attacks repeatedly breaking down, conceding territory to their opponents and consequently having to defend on the back foot. When Drink turned a ball over in the British half, a chip over the British defensive line was pounced on by the home side and they scored in the corner. Again the gap widened as an unconverted try made the score 22-12.
More positively, the BRFC squad showed their resolve as the match came to its final 20 minutes. An attempt by scrum half Nick Sanders to steal a try down the blind side was just thwarted. Strong ball carries by players such as Kris James in the forwards, and Alex Rankin in the backs, meant that the expat side continued to barge their way into the opponents half. It was as the match came to a close that these efforts paid off; the forwards again creating the platform just shy of the Drink try line. When the ball was given to the backs, center Charlie Hall was given the opportunity to scythe through the defensive line. Final score: 22-19 to Drink.
While the side will no doubt be disappointed by the result, one off-game does not determine a season. The BRFC walked away from the game with the knowledge that there are things that they need to get right if they are to transfer their potential into further success on the field.