Draguignan Var — Saintes: 27:23, Proligue

Draguignan Var defeated Saint 27:23 in the Proleague on Thursday evening, keeping alive a home record that has seen them avoid defeat in four matches so far. The result leaves the hosts in thirteenth place with two points from four games, while Saint remain seventh with four points after four outings.

Neither side has tasted defeat yet this season, but the spread of results tells a different story. Saint have two wins and two draws, whereas Draguignan Var have managed one victory with three draws. The gap between them is narrow, and this match showed why.

We had backed the visitors with sixty per cent confidence, expecting their away form to carry them through. Instead, the home side threw bodies in the way and held on when it mattered. The scoreline does not lie, but it also does not tell the full story.

What matters is not the number on the board but the pattern. Draguignan Var have lost ground against stronger opposition, yet they have not folded at home. Saint, for all their position, found no answer when the game tightened.

The two points gained keep Draguignan Var in the conversation, even if the table does not yet reward them generously. Saint will look at the result and wonder where the momentum slipped away.