“We’ve had a difficult few years and here we are in the final. I don’t have the words, it’s magnificent.” Laroque-d’Olmes will play the Regional 2 final

RC LABARTHE-SUR-LéZE 30- ES LAROQUE-D’OLMES 34

(MT: 15-20) Field referee: Mr. Mathieu Naime. Assistant referees: MM. Benjamin Berva and Mathieu Vieira. Federal representative: Mr. Frédéric Poll. Financial delegate: Mr. Alain Large.
For Labarthe-sur-Lèze: 4 tries from M. Deruaz (38th), T. Lafforgue (40th + 2), Q. Fleurance (52nd) and S. Alidor (54th); 2 conversions (38th, 54th) and 2 penalties (10th, 45th) from B. Lavergne.
For Laroque-d’Olmes: 4 tries from T. Chaubet (14th), C. Pichéric (25th), T. Tramezaygues (65th) and F. Zajkowski (73rd); 4 conversions and 2 penalties (8th, 30th) from C. Pichéric.
Evolution of the score: 0-3; 3-3; 3-10; 3-17; 3-20; 10-20; 15-20/18-20; 23-20; 30-20; 30-27; 30-34.
RACING-CLUB LABARTHE-SUR-LEZE. J. Jordana, S. Alidor, A. Batmalle (cap.) ; M. Deruaz, T. Coutard ; H. Dumont, C. Gros, C. Figeac ; B. Lavergne (m), T. Lafforgue (o) ; J. Lopez, P. Battesti, C. Bredillard, T. Martinez; A. Chappe. Remplaçants : J. Gouzenne, T. Fontes, Q. Fleurance, A. Carles, E. Rouilhet, A. Guidez, G. Dubois.
Yellow cards: J. Jordana (14th), T. Fontes (80th). White card: S. Alidor (72nd).
ETOILE SPORTIVE LAROQUE-D’OLMES. M. Gea-Pont, L. Bendrell, F. Zajkowski ; J. Tartié (cap.), T. Chaubet ; N. Dhers, D. Felipe, Th. Bendrell ; A. Dumay (m), G. Biscay (o) ; G. Perrault, J. Pichéric, O. Torro, A. Perron ; E. Guiraud. Substitutes : N. Manenti, V. Deveille, T. Tramesaigues, T. Pirlot, J. Houles, N. Tardy, A. Ramos. Coaches: J.- F Manenti, J. Cathala, B. Aubry, A. Despaux and F. Vidal.
Carton jaune : Dumay (38e).

Straddling the two halves, in less than twenty minutes (between the 38th and 54th minutes), ES Laroque-d’Olmes suffered a terrible 27-0. From 3-20 in favor of the Pays d’Olmes players, the score increased to 30-20 in favor of the Haut-Garonnais. Above all, the Ariégeois seem tired. But there you have it, Captain Tartié’s partners are made of different wood this year. They promised to put years of hardship behind them. All together, they find incredible resources to reverse the scenario and win by stifling the stunned Labarthais. 10 years later, ES Laroque-d’Olmes returns to the regional final. How beautiful it is.
Faced with another first in the group, who had blocked the path of Lézat-sur-Lèze in the round of 16 (25-20), the ESL knows that it must impose its strength. Quickly, the guys from Pays d’Olmes took over the Labarthe camp, helped by occupying the ground at the foot of their metronome Pichéric. If Lavergne (10th) responds to the Ariège center (8th), it is the Laroquais who make a strong impression. On both sides, we put in a lot of play despite the heat. The ESL “casserole” takes everything. Penalty 5 m from the line, we choose the game by hand, T. Chaubet crosses the line and unleashes the hundreds of supporters present (3-7, 14th). Laroque-d’Olmes is unleashed. A new “casserole” puts Labarthe to torture. Laroque controls the ball, Pichéric validates the work of all his friends (3-17, 25th). The half-hour clock strikes and Pichéric even gives his team a 17-point lead (3-20, 30th). Labarthe is clearly on the ropes. But the ESL gave a lot. And the Haut-Garonnais know how to use the balls given to them with a quick back line. In two minutes, the Ariégeois cracked. Two tries and the dynamic changes radically when everyone returns to the locker room (15-20). Especially since the ESL finds itself numerically inferior.

Laroque-d’Olmes turns everything upside down

Back on the pitch, Labarthe hits the nail on the head. Lavergne does not tremble, there are only 2 points ahead (18-20, 45th). It’s hard, very hard. Q. Flleurance puts Labarthe in front for the first time (23-20, 52nd). And it’s not over yet. A messed up ball and the poisonous Haut-Garonne hooker S. Salidor dangerously increases the score (30-20, 54th). The hardest part is done? No. Because Laroque-d’Olmes will offer its noisy supporters an epic end to the match. There is a quarter of an hour left, there is nothing to lose and everything to gain. Penalty 5 m from the line, Lroque plays with his hand. T. Tramesaygues collapses behind the line, and why not (30-27, 65th). The ESL has clearly regained momentum. Labarthe suffers. G. Perraul lets go of the ball when flattening (70th). The referee returns to a penalty. S. Alidor is sanctioned, the Ariégeois prefer hand play to the 3 points of the equalizer and overtime. Bingo. F. Zajkowski finds the fault (73rd). And as C. Pichéric doesn’t miss anything, Laroque-d’Olmes takes a 4-point lead (30-34). The last minutes are suffocating. Literally and figuratively. Last penalty. The choice of 7 points ahead? No, the penaltouche… lost. The tension is at its maximum. But, 90m from the Ariège line, it is too far for Labarthe. ES Laroque-d’Olmes is in the final, ten years later. Deserved and magnificent.

In the locker rooms

Cédric Pichéric (center of ES Laroque-d’Olmes): “For ten years, we have experienced complicated seasons. Two and a half years ago, we started to be in place. And it’s been two years since we managed to impose our game, to be more liberated. Last year, we didn’t manage to get over the hump but now we can see that the team has matured. This Sunday, with so much at stake, with pressure, we made too many individual errors. But we have a collective who knows, with their backs against the wall, how to react. All the past difficulties have served us well. We are all here, we encourage each other, we fight for each other. Even when we take 27-3 in less than half an hour. It brings back more than just good memories. There, we are still not favorites. For the moment, we are defying all predictions. »
Frédéric Vidal (co-trainer of (ES Laroque-d’Olmes): “It’s crazy even if we made it complicated. It must also be said that there was a great team up front. We have seen it in all the final stages, the teams which take off quickly are often caught up. We’re lucky because Labarthe caught up with us very quickly and allowed us to get back in the saddle with all the time left. It’s really a great team. They outplayed us like they did every other team. We didn’t get through it. We have the bench, we manage it with guys who have energy. We were also lucky to have a big hen who allowed us to strengthen ourselves in the state of mind of not giving up. Today, it came in handy. »
Thomas Bendrell (third row of ES Laroque-d’Olmes): ” What a game. What a pleasure. Ups, downs. We did the job in the first half and, in twenty minutes, they came back on us. We scare each other and have a f… finale. With this team, I was sure that we were going to come back and that we were going to win. We’ve had a difficult few years and here we are in the final. I don’t have the words, it’s magnificent. We like to scare everyone (laughs) but I never doubted. I knew we were going to come back. We have mentality, we are proud. Hats off to the team, I hope we can do the job next Sunday. »
Guillaume Biscay (flyhalf of ES Laroque-d’Olmes): “It’s fabulous, we couldn’t have asked for better. It’s a real group of friends who struggled for years, who never left each other. These years are paying off. We take the matches one after the other, we enjoy it. It’s the best. We have a big slump against a very big team but, this year, we have the resources. We never give up, we trust each other, we keep our backs round and that smiles on us. »
Olivier Torro (between ES Laroque-d’Olmes): “It was a tight match, we scared each other but we were able to get back on track. Never break down, never give up, it’s in the Laroquais genes. We had a weak time but we were able to come back. What makes us strong is our mutual support, this fraternity that we have created over the past few years. »