Valence-Romans saw off Angoulême 39-22 in the Pro D2 on 4 September 2026. The hosts finished five points clear of the visitors in the table and the result kept them in fifth place with 84 points from 30 games. Angoulême remain ninth on 59 points, still without a draw all season.
By then Valence-Romans had already built a pattern of wins and losses that showed inconsistency, but they had beaten Angoulême before. The visitors had shown flashes of promise too — a 38-26 victory over Colomieu in August — yet they could not match the hosts here. To be fair, the gap in the table tells you something about where both sides stand.
We had backed the home side before kick-off. Eighty-four per cent confidence in a Valence-Romans win felt right given their record at home and the visitors' away struggles. The result confirmed that assessment, though confidence is never a guarantee on the pitch.
The hosts have 19 wins and 11 defeats after 30 matches, while Angoulême sit on 13 victories and 17 losses. Recent form for Valence-Romans included a narrow 21-23 defeat to Brive and a heavy 14-39 loss to Lyonais, so this win lifted the mood a little. Angoulême had bounced back from a 14-45 hammering at Agen with a 20-51 win over Provence, but consistency remains elusive.
The margin of victory matters more than the scoreline itself. Thirty-nine points against 22 means Valence-Romans controlled territory and possession for large stretches. The hosts will take heart from the goal difference, which sits at a positive figure after 30 rounds. Angoulême need to find more edge in attack if they want to climb the table.