Top 14 Final: Clermont Parra-storm to first French title with 19-6 win over Perpignan

29 May 2010

Perpignan 6 (6)
Clermont Auvergne 19 (13)
Stade de France

The waiting is finally over. One hundred years of pain, 10 losing finals and talk of a Top 14 curse can all now be consigned to the bin - Clermont Auvergne are French champions.

The Michelin-backed club sparked riotous scenes both in Paris and back in Montferrand after they downed defending champions Perpignan 19-6 to bring to an end one of the sorriest losing runs in professional sport.

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‘Les Jaunards’ had infamously lost all 10 of their previous final appearances, including the last three in succession, but they made it 11^th time lucky thanks to another superb forwards' display and an assured performance from 21-year-old France scrum-half Morgan Parra.

The confident number nine landed three penalties and a conversion, adding to a 10^th-minute try from Fijian flyer Napolioni Nalaga as the Michelin-backed club ended their centenary season in the best possible style.

Parra’s kicking proficiency was in stark contrast to Perpignan’s Jérôme Porical as the Catalan full-back missed four of his six attempts at goal as he failed to repeat last season’s match-winning performance.

His wayward kicking began with a sixth-minute miss when he pushed his 44m effort just wide. Clermont were not so forgiving when their chance arrived, with Parra making no mistake on 10 minutes as he calmly slotted a straightforward effort from 26m.

Clermont were clearly buoyed by their early score and got their due reward five minutes later when Nalaga bundled over for the game’s opening (and only) try from close in after a sweeping counter-attack that was started by Anthony Floch and continued by Aurélien Rougerie and the impressive Brock James. Parra added the extras to make it 10-0, but Perpignan finally got on the board halfway through the first period when Porical kicked a 46m penalty. The man who scored all 21 of their points in their semi-final win against Stade Toulousain was at it again six minutes later – this time from 35m – as the defending champions clawed their way back into the game, but in truth they were constantly fighting to stem the Clermont attacking tide.

Parra’s second penalty success further stretched their advantage just before the half hour and they went close to adding a second try shortly after following yet another break from influential fly-half James.

Porical then missed successive penalties in the 38^th, 41^st and 57^th minutes as the Catalans fought valiantly to defend their crown, but the intensity of Clermont's defence stood firm before Parra stepped up to complete his fourth success from five on the hour mark. That made it 16-6 to Clermont and the pain of their 100-year wait began to seep away. Floch’s opportunistic drop-goal further stretched their lead and set the scene for the almighty celebrations that are likely to last for many a week.

Clermont's victory was clearly deserved on the night, although both teams should be applauded for putting on a high-class spectacle that befitted the colourful occasion. Their win brought tears to the eyes of head coach Vern Cotter and cheers from the many neutrals who had been pulling for them. 

Teams:
Perpignan starting XV: Freshwater, Guirado, Mas, Olibeau, Tchale-Watchou, Tonita, Perez, Tuilagi, Durand, Hume, Manas, Mermoz, Marty, Plante, Porical
Replacements: Vilaceca, Schuster, Mélé, Pulu, Tincu, Laharrague, Le Corvec, Grandclaude
Clermont Auvergne starting XV: Domingo, Ledesma, Scelzo, Cudmore, Privat, Bonnaire, Lapandry, Vermeulen, Parra, James, Malzieu, Joubert, Rougerie, Nalaga, Floch
Replacements: Audebert, Debaty, Senio, Pierre, Cabello, Lavea, Zirakashvili, Canale

Finally...

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