Montauban saw off Béziers 50-21 in Pro D2 on Thursday evening. The result leaves the hosts fifth in the table while the visitors remain rooted to 15th. Four games played for both sides, and Montauban's record now stands at three wins, one defeat, 12 points on the board.
And here's the thing — we had called this one. Montauban to win, confidence sitting at 95 percent. The scoreline told a different story to any nervous pre-match speculation. They found no answer from Béziers' setup, and the visitors ended a barren spell in their own right, though not one worth celebrating.
To be fair, the table tells the same story as the pitch. Montauban have won three of four, while Béziers have seen three defeats and only one victory. By then, the gap in confidence was visible. The hosts ran out of legs against weaker opposition, but Béziers never looked comfortable either.
Recent form backs this up. Montauban beat Angoulême 7-45, Grenoble 20-17, and Nevers 25-21 in their previous outings. Béziers had beaten Nevers 21-20 at home but lost to Nice, Oyonnax, and Angoulême in between. The pattern of results suggests a side finding its rhythm while another struggles to string performances together.
The gap between them now sits at eight points in the standings. Montauban hold their position, Béziers have not moved. The result ends a run of inconsistency for the visitors and extends a steady climb for the hosts.
