Py Bierge secured a 33-30 victory over Istres in the French Cup on Tuesday. It was a tight affair that saw the hosts prevail despite the visitors looking dangerous. The final whistle marked the end of a contest where neither side could break the deadlock easily.
To be fair, we had tipped the away side for success with 80 per cent confidence. And here's the thing, though: Py Bierge had already solved this problem once this season. The visitors may have overlooked that detail. It was a factor that changed the dynamic.
On 4 September, the same teams met and the hosts took a 25-24 win. That result suggests a familiarity with the opponents that the visitors perhaps underestimated. The scoreline on Tuesday extended their unbeaten run against the visitors. It was a reminder that stats do not always predict the outcome. The margin of victory was slightly larger this time.
Form has shifted since then. Py Bierge beat Massy Essonne 36-26 last weekend, proving they are not running out of legs. Istres, meanwhile, fell short against Vaulance in their last outing.
By then, the gap was clear. The hosts move forward in the competition while Istres are knocked out. It was a day where the underdog narrative flipped completely. The standings remain unchanged for now, but the path is set.
