Top 14: Perpignan thrash weakened Stade Toulousain to cut the gap to just one point

06 March 2009

Perpignan 32 (10) Toulouse 8 (0)

Perpignan took full toll of a weakened Stade Toulousain side to record a thumping 32-8 victory at the Stade Aimé Giral, and move within one point of the current leaders.

It was the Catalan club's fifth successive home victory against the defending champions, and once more they collected an attacking bonus point as they outscored their illustrious visitors by four tries to one.

Stade knew they would remain top whatever the result and appeared to concede the points before the match even kicked off when they named an inexperienced and youthful XV, but that is not to undervalue what Perpignan achieved.

The hosts have been hit by a phalanx of injuries but still managed to play with cohesion, belief and fluidity - attributes that appeared beyond their visitors.

Number eight Damien Chouly opened the try-scoring when he went over from a five-metre scrum in the 14th minute, and the home side eased 10-0 ahead by the interval with fly-half David Melé adding the conversion and a later penalty.

In truth the scoreline hardly reflected Perpignan's dominance, and it was only some determined defensive tackling that prevented more tries in that opening period.

But the vociferous home crowd didn't have long to wait before the scoreboard started ticking again in the second half, with centre David Marty grabbing the Catalans' second try just five minutes after the restart.

Melé once more converted, and stretched Perpignan's lead to 20-0 when he landed a second penalty minutes later.

The champions didn't help themselves with an error-strewn performance epitomised by the non-functioning half-back combination of Frédéric Michalak and Gaffie du Toit.

Michalak eventually got Stade on the board with a 56th-minute penalty, but the French international was at fault later on when his wayward pass led to former Toulouse centre Maxime Mermoz intercepting to run in Perpignan's fourth try.

In between Christophe Manas went over for try number three - following last week's double against Montpellier - and Melé's boot further extended the advantage to 32-3.

Kunavore did manage to cross the line for the visitors with six minutes to go - reward for a massive defensive performance from the Fijian wing - and Toulouse very nearly denied their hosts a bonus point when substitute Matthieu Bélie went within inches of adding a hardly deserved second just two minutes later, but the visitors' miserable night was rounded off when Michalak was sin-binned in the final minute for a dangerous tackle.

The result - which was never in doubt from first whistle to last - ensures Perpignan are now in prime position to take advantage of any further slips by the leaders, although Noves will have accounted for the result in his head as he seeks to rest players ahead of their hectic end-of-season schedule.

In the long run he will also be content to have handed valuable experience to the likes of fly-half Bélie (21), centre Rémi Lumerat (19), flanker Laurent Thuery (20) and lock Russlan Boukerou (19).

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