USAAM Nîmes Gard beat Provence Aix 35:33 in the Starligue on Sunday afternoon. The result keeps the hosts unbeaten at home and extends their run of positive results after a heavy defeat to Montpellier earlier in the month. The visitors had looked solid in their previous encounters but could not find a way through on this occasion.
By then, the home side had already established a rhythm that the away defence struggled to contain. Nîmes opened with confidence, winning two of their last three matches before this encounter. Their 45:23 victory over Sarrebourg demonstrated the attacking potential that Aix failed to neutralise.
And here's the thing — the away side had been inconsistent in their last five games. Three losses alongside two wins suggested a team searching for stability. They had beaten Cannes 32:25 but lost to Rennes and Nantes in between. That inconsistency showed up when it mattered most.
To be fair, Aix had not lost any of their four matches this season and sat ninth with four points. But form matters more than position, and their recent results told a different story. They had lost three of their last five games before this trip to Nîmes.
The prediction was for an away victory with 52 per cent confidence. That forecast did not come to pass. Nîmes' attacking flow, combined with Aix's defensive struggles in recent matches, proved decisive. The home side worked their goals and held on despite pressure in the closing stages.
The result means Nîmes remain fifth with six points from four games, while Aix stay ninth with four points. The gap between them widens slightly, and the visitors will need to regroup quickly if they want to climb the table.
