La Rochelle Seven secured a 19-14 victory over Lyon Seven at the Super Sevens tournament on Thursday evening. The hosts finished ahead despite a tough contest in front of a modest crowd. By then, the result felt earned after a back-and-forth affair that refused to settle early on.
Lyon opened the scoring with an early try that kept them in the hunt. La Rochelle responded with a try of their own before half-time, and here's the thing — momentum shifted in their favour. The visitors tried to respond but found themselves chasing the game rather than setting the pace.
La Rochelle added two more tries in the second half while Lyon managed one further score of their own. The hosts kept their heads under pressure when the game tightened, and that composure made the difference. To be fair, Lyon deserved more from their attacking moves but couldn't convert consistently enough.
Both sides had opportunities but only La Rochelle's forwards and backs clicked at the right moments. The visitors' defensive structure held up well for periods but eventually fell apart after the opener from the hosts. It wasn't a dominant display, just a practical one that got the job done when it mattered.
The result extends La Rochelle's recent form, though they had already shown vulnerability in their last outing against Bordeaux Bègles. Lyon's record against the Barbarians this season suggests they can be competitive but lack consistency. The table position means little at this stage of the tournament, but confidence is building for the hosts.