BUC 10 - Luxembourg 34

BUC 10 - Luxembourg 34

Weather: 12°. Sunny

Pitch: Synthetic (Good)

Kickoff: 13:30

Spectators: 52

Ref: M. Spillane (*****)

Luxembourg: 

Last Saturday Luxembourg went to Brussels to play BUC for Day 5 of Belgium Cadets Division 1 having in mind a victory plus a bonus point would comfort their excellent 3^rd place in the championship.

Despite playing for the first time in a synthetic pitch, they didn’t spend too much time analysing the pitch or the opposition. From the kick off, Luxembourg won the ball deep in BUC territory and, after a few rucks, the ball run all the back line to finish in the hands of Christian Olsen alone on the wing. 10 minutes later, Luxembourg scored again. This time, from a good line out, the ball went quickly to the back line and Martin Pacaud took advantage of a big gap in BUC’s defence and scored in the middle of the posts.

After this storming start where the BUC team was just defending and only small mistakes in the last transmission prevented a few more tries, Luxembourg lowered the intensity allowing BUC time to think and play their best weapon: a stronger and heavier forward pack. Both forward packs were monopolising the ball now but without any real threat.

However, just before half time, another good run from Martin followed superbly by Olivier Lambert ended with Martin scoring again. Martin converted two of the tries and half time arrived with the score at 0- 19.   

Knowing the bonus point was just one try away, Luxembourg started second half like they did on first, scoring very quickly. And what a try it was: the forwards got a turn over at a breakdown close to the BUC end zone; the ball was quickly recycled finding the back line flat. Receiving the ball static, Martin passed between the legs to Gauthier Lachaise, very quick hands gave the ball to Oliver who fixed the last defender to free Gwenael Gibeaux on the corner. Opposition players, spectators and even the referee couldn’t believe what they just saw: the perfect try and a serious candidate for try of the season.   

Somehow, this try revived the opposition’s proud and with a bit of relaxation from Luxembourg, BUC scored a deserved try after the forward pack went in force over the line.

The game became less structured with much more solo actions than collective. From one of these, Gauthier scored after going through all the BUC defence alone. BUC regained composure and scored a second try on the 46^th minute. From a scrum at 5m, BUC attacked the blind side scoring in front of the distracted Luxembourg defenders.   

Before the end of the game, Gauthier still had time to score his second try of the afternoon and the sixth for Luxembourg. This time, the forwards took the game to one side of the pitch and, on the first opportunity, the ball was quickly recycled to the backs and Gauthier went unstoppable till the try line.   

Final score: 10-34

Man of the Match: Jesper Christensen