On a thrilling night at Stade Armandie, SU Agen pulled off a stunning comeback against FC Grenoble, winning 29-23 in a match that will be remembered for its dramatic final moments. With just two minutes left on the clock, Agen found themselves trailing by eight points, but they managed to score two tries in quick succession to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat.
The match began with a sense of urgency as both teams were eager to assert their dominance. Sam Davies opened the scoring for Grenoble with a penalty in the 5th minute, putting the visitors ahead 3-0. However, it wasn't long before Agen responded, with Billy Searle leveling the score at 3-3 with a penalty of his own in the 17th minute.
As the first half progressed, Grenoble regained control, with Hanru Sirgel scoring a try in the 27th minute, extending their lead to 10-3. The rain began to pour, adding to the intensity of the match as both teams battled the elements. Despite a spirited defense from Agen, they struggled to contain Grenoble's attack, and Davies added another penalty just before halftime, bringing the score to 13-3 in favor of the visitors.
At halftime, Agen faced a ten-point deficit, and the pressure was mounting. The home crowd, consisting of 6,512 spectators, was hoping for a turnaround in the second half. And they got just that. Agen came out with renewed determination and quickly made their mark. In the 47th minute, Iban Etcheverry scored a try, narrowing the gap to 13-8.
Just three minutes later, Etcheverry struck again, this time giving Agen the lead at 15-13 after a successful conversion from Searle. The momentum seemed to be shifting, and the crowd erupted in cheers. However, the excitement was short-lived as John Madigan received a yellow card for a high tackle, leaving Agen with a numerical disadvantage.
Capitalizing on this opportunity, Grenoble's Romain Trouilloud scored a try in the 55th minute, putting his team back in front at 20-15. The visitors seemed to be in control, and with Davies adding a drop goal in the 67th minute, they stretched their lead to 23-15.
With time running out, the situation looked grim for Agen. But the team refused to back down. In a remarkable show of resilience, they mounted a final assault in the dying minutes of the match. In the 79th minute, Kolinio Ramoka scored a crucial try, bringing the score to 22-23 and reigniting hopes of a dramatic comeback.
As the clock ticked into the red, Agen continued their relentless push. They advanced steadily down the pitch, and with one final surge, Hans Lombard-Buret dove across the try line in the 84th minute, sealing a sensational victory for Agen at 29-23. The stadium erupted with joy as the players celebrated their incredible turnaround.
This match was not just a victory for SU Agen; it was a testament to their fighting spirit and determination to survive in the Pro D2 league. With this win, they have given themselves a fighting chance to avoid relegation, while Grenoble, despite being the league leaders, will reflect on what went wrong in the final moments of the match.
As the dust settles on this thrilling encounter, both teams will look ahead to their next challenges. Agen will hope to build on this momentum, while Grenoble must regroup and focus on maintaining their position at the top of the league. The stage is set for an exciting finish to the Pro D2 season, and if this match is anything to go by, fans can expect more drama in the weeks to come.
