Périgorden and Mont-de-Marsan met in the Nationale on Saturday, 17 October, and the hosts ran out 39-8 winners at home. We had tipped an away victory with 73 per cent confidence, but the match took a different turn entirely. What shifted things was how Mont-de-Marsan's defence simply fell apart under sustained pressure.
The visitors came into the fixture with mixed form. They had beaten Marseille Olympique 38-23 in their last outing before that, but losses to Chambéry and Massi suggested vulnerability. Périgorden, meanwhile, had been competitive in recent games — a 27-23 win over Bourgoin-Jallieu and a 25-21 victory against Orléans showed they could finish matches strongly.
By then, the story of the day was clear. Périgorden's attack found rhythm early and never looked back. The margin grew steadily, and Mont-de-Marsan struggled to respond. The old head settled them down would have been needed, but there was no such presence on the court.
The final scoreline tells its own tale. Thirty-nine goals against eight is not a contest that required late drama. The hosts put the game to bed early and then ran the clock down. The visitors simply could not find a way through.
In the table, this result moves Périgorden into a stronger position. Mont-de-Marsan's hopes of a top-four finish took a serious blow. The gap between them widened, and the visitors now face an uphill battle.
