He experienced the match as on the pitch, sometimes pacing in the stands, sometimes standing on tiptoe to better observe the game from the top of the stands. Francis Roux is in tears, at the final whistle, when he comes to see the players on the land of Rongiéras, under the pink glow of dusk. It is past 9 p.m., CAP has lost its semi-final return home against Rennes, already winners in the first leg. 16 to 20, final score.
A very expensive red
“I told them that we will take another year, I am disappointed for the public, the people who came, the players who deserved, who fought like dogs. Fate willed it otherwise”loose the president of the CAP. “I told them, we are in National 2, and we will go up to National 1 next year!” To the side, Rennes supporters joined their players on the fieldto the sound of the bagad that came expressly from Bordeaux, waving Breton flags.
We miss the last step, the most important, that’s what we said to each other between players, we had ambitions, it sucks
– Marius Vialle
“We had dreamed of being in the final but Rennes deserved their victory”confess coach Richard Hill, hands on hips : “We started the first 20 minutes very well, which we didn’t do last week. After that, we make mistakes, we take two cards, including a red [Cyril Couturier à la vingtième minute, NDLR] which is very expensive. The players may have lost their temper with the pressure of the final stages, it’s a very good lesson. I knew at that time that it would be very difficult.”
– Harry Sagot
Two attempts in quick succession from Rennes
Why did the referee bring out the red? “Your 13 put three punches on the ground”, said the referee to Marius Vialle, the CAP captain. The Perigords still leading 9-3 at halftime, 14-15but the Capists take a try “cap” at the start of the second period, then another try on a good throw-in from Rennes. “We play four times against them in the regular season, we still lose three times”recognizes Marius Vialle, the Périgourdin captain: “We miss the last step, the most important, that’s what we said to each other between players, we had ambitions, it sucks”.