Bressan ended up on the wrong side of a 12:36 defeat against Carcassonne in the French National Championship on Thursday evening. The result was never really in doubt after the visitors opened up a commanding lead early on and never looked back. And here's the thing — it was the sort of match where one side simply outclassed the other from the first whistle.
Carcassonne took control almost immediately, putting points on the board before Bressan could find any rhythm. The visitors' attack was clinical, while the home side struggled to match the pace. To be fair, Bressan had shown signs of life in that 16:13 win over Bourgoin-Jallieu back in March, but this performance told a different story entirely.
The visitors didn't just win — they dominated. A 32:14 victory over Albi just a week earlier had given them confidence, and they carried that momentum into this fixture. Carcassonne's third try of the half turned the match into a formality, and by then the result was beyond question.
For Bressan, this adds another chapter to a difficult run. They've lost four of their last five matches, including that heavy 6:27 away defeat to Orléans. Things came to a head here, with the scoreline reflecting a team that has lost its way. The home side simply never got out of second gear, and the visitors punished every mistake.
Carcassonne's record this season has been inconsistent, but this result will do little to calm nerves. They've won two of their last five, including that impressive haul against Albi, but inconsistency remains the defining feature. By then, any hopes of a turnaround had evaporated.
The final score sees Bressan's poor form extend further, while Carcassonne at least have something to build on. The gap between the two sides was clear from start to finish, and neither side will be satisfied with what they saw on the pitch.