Carcassonne straight to semi final

Carcassonne fully deserved their quarter final victory over an enthousiastic Albi outfit as their overseas players led the way with a convincing yet slightly flattering scoreline.

Albi looked as good as their opponents for much of the game but bad errors and lax defence allowed Carcassonne to much freedom and were punished accordingly. Albi opened the scoring in the third minute after a rapid break left side 35 metres out from chunky Samoan prop TJ Uele found winger Nittim Pedrero in good support to score with ease in the left corner. Baptiste Fabre couldn’t convert. Albi piled on the pressure and a sublime 40-20 from the classy Fabre almost produced a second try on 8 minutes but a knock on close to the line let the Audois off the hook. Carcassonne woke up just after and pressurised the home line forcing two play ons from ref Mr Drizza. Good work from fullback Tony Tumusa and Bastien Escamilla allowed hooker Julien Agullo to score under the posts. Alexis Alberola made the easy kick to push his team ahead. Seven minutes later winger Alexis Escamilla got on the end of a delightful Alberola dink to the right corner as the kick bisected the home defences. Alberola couldn’t make the touchline kick.
Albi worked hard to get back into the game but bad discipline and bad handling cost dearly especially as a Tumusu knock on close to his line resulted in Albi doing the same thing from two metres. It was no surprise when the visitors took advantage of the errors on 22 minutes Aussie ex Villeneuve Minervois centre Jamie Anderson broke forty metres with Garry Lo in outside support ready to take the pass and sprint the remaining 30 metres to the line. Alberola obliged again. Albi still had chances but couldn’t take advantage and Carcassonne added an extra point with an Alberola drop on te half hour.
Albi managed to get a foothold back into the game five minutes before the break after Aussie halfback Alex Grant dummied his way over the line close the posts after good combo work from Las Tabu and hooker William Ousty. Fabre gave his side double figures from the kick. Albi pressed further but a crucial error on the hooter allowed Anderon the crash over left side . Alberola again finished off the converseion as the visitors went into the sheds with a healthy 13 point advantage.
The Tigers started the second half at full speed and Pedrero dived in from a Théo Ginguet short pass left side but Fabre couldn’t convert. The arrears reduced but no panic from Carcassonne on 52 minutes as the speedy Lo was fed from Anderson from a scrum on his own 20 metres. The PNG speed machine sprinted the full 80 metres leaving hapless home chasers in his wake.No conversion from Alberola this time but he did add two points from a penalty under the posts on the hour mark.
Albi still had chances to add to their tally but let themselves down as Carcassonne waited to score again. Albi held out until 75 minutes as the influential Jonathan Soum deservedly got on the scoresheet after he nipped in from close range under the posts.Alberola made the two-pointer. Just when we thought the scoring had finished Clément Soubeyras sprinted 70 metres past tired looking Albi players to score in the right corner.

Albi RL : Clément Bienes, Nittim Pedrero, Hugo Lescouzières, Théo Ginguet, Yohan Spina, Alex Grant, Baptiste Fabre, TJ Uele, Pierre Carivenc, Paul Molinier, Jye Ballinger, Tristan Dupuy, Maxime Garcia.

Subs : William Ousty, Laz Tabu, Cédric Mazars, Yasine Benhammed.

Tries : Pedrero (3, 42),Grant (32, 67)

Goals : Fabre 2/4

Carcassonne XIII : Tony Tumusa, Alexis Escamilla, Vincent Albert, Jamie Anderson, Garry Lo, Luc Franco, Alexis Alberola, Bastien Escamilla, Julien Agullo, Teddy Sadaoui, Jean-Philippe Baille, Nabil Djalout, Matthieu Khedimi.

Subs : Jonathan Soum, Clément Soubeyras, Damien Tetard, Amar Sabri.

Tries : Agullo (12), A Escamilla (19), Lo (22, 52), Anderson (38), Tumusa (63), Soum (75), Soubeyras (80).

Goals : Alberola 5/8, 1 pen, 1 Dropgoal.

MOM : Anderson
Penalties : 9 – 8
Half-Time : 10 – 23
Attendance : 750
Ref(s) : Mr Drizza (75/100) Left the field on 73 minutes. Mr Vergnes (60/100) Replacement.
Yellow Card : J-P Baille (17) Dangerous tackle.
Weather : Fine 19°C

Dave Andrews