US Dax put together a comprehensive 57-19 victory over Narbonne in Pro D2 on Thursday evening. The hosts dominated from the outset, running in tries at will while keeping their defence tight. It was the kind of performance that sends a message up and down the table.
Dax sit 11th in the standings with 55 points from 30 games. They have won 14 and lost 16, with no draws to cushion their campaign. Recent form had been mixed, including a heavy 47-0 defeat to Vannes in mid-May, but this result shows they can still dominate when things click.
Narbonne came into the match with better recent results. They had beaten Nice 23-20 and drawn with Albi 29-29, suggesting they were building momentum. But cup football has its own rules, and on this occasion the visitors simply had nothing to do all evening.
The scoreline tells the story: 57 points to 19. Dax scored tries at will while Narbonne could only muster 19 points in return. The hosts held their nerve throughout, never letting up even when the gap was already insurmountable. To be fair, Narbonne were outclassed in every department.
For Dax, this win moves them closer to mid-table security. They extended their unbeaten run in front of their own fans, something that matters more than any fixture list can show. The gap between them and the bottom five is narrowing.
Narbonne's season takes a knock. They had been competitive in recent outings, but this result suggests they still have work to do. By then, the table goes out of the window in these games, but the points gap will remain a concern.