Mont-de-Marsan, first in the Pro D2 regular season and undefeated at home, trembled in the second half but ended up enforcing the hierarchy on Sunday at the expense of Nevers (26-15), to qualify for the final of accession in Top 14.
In the final next Sunday in Montpellier, the Landais will face the winner of the other semi-final, between Bayonne and Oyonnax at 5:45 p.m. in the Basque Country.
For their first semi-final in four years, the Montois, logically in front at the break, trembled when they returned from the locker room against the Neversois invited for the first time in their history at this stage and who believed for a good half an hour. reverse the initial trend.
Because at the break, Léo Coly’s teammates seemed to be heading straight for an easy validation of their ticket to the final. Their scrum half, precise at the foot (4 of 4), and opportunistic on a try scored after an interception in the center of the field, had allowed his team to turn with a thirteen-point lead (16-3).
Nevers, dominated until then in rucks and carried balls, losing a number of balls in contact, then returned from the locker room with a new hinge and other intentions.
This was verified from the start with this interception by Shaun Reynolds (44th) calling everything into question and even giving ideas to Yoan Cottin, served involuntarily by Leandro Cedaro, for a race towards the local in-goal that he did not was able to reach, taken over by Coly, savior of the Yellow and Black (54th). The turning point?
Certainly because behind, Patrick Milhet’s men took over in the scrum and took advantage of a handball error from Romaric Camou on receiving a kick from above to score a second lucky try signed Lucas Mensa (23 -10, 68e).
The pride of the Burgundians struck again with Kevin Noah at the conclusion of a combination in touch (72nd). The Landes camp, imperturbable, then ensured its success with a final penalty (77th) after a new winning scrum.
