Section Paloise 7 claimed a 24-10 victory over Stade Français Paris in the Supersevens tournament on Thursday. The home side secured their first win in what has been a difficult period, ending a run that had seen them lose their last five matches. Stade Français Paris, meanwhile, continued their struggles away from home in the competition.
The result gives Section Paloise 7 something to build on after a string of heavy defeats. They had lost 0-5 to La Rochelle 7 just recently, and before that suffered a 12-28 defeat to Bordeaux Bègles 7. Stade Français Paris could not find any momentum either, having been beaten 0-21 by Clermont in their most recent outing.
Both teams have had challenging campaigns so far. Section Paloise 7's recent record included losses to Montpellier, Bordeaux Bègles 7, and Stade Rochellette 7. Stade Français Paris were defeated by Montauban Cevennes, Racing 92, Aviron Bayonnais 7, and Stade Rochellette 7 in their last five fixtures. The 24-10 margin suggests Section Paloise 7 finally found their rhythm against a Stade Français side that has struggled to score consistently.
What stands out is the contrast in results between the two sides. Section Paloise 7 managed to put points on the board against opponents they had previously been beaten heavily by. Stade Français Paris, who had only one win in their last five matches against Aviron Bayonnais 7, could not replicate that form. The home side's ability to end a barren spell was the deciding factor.
The victory moves Section Paloise 7 forward in the standings while Stade Français Paris remain searching for consistency. In a tournament where every point matters, this result could prove significant for both teams' ambitions. The home crowd at Section Paloise 7 will have been pleased with the performance after such a difficult run of results.