USAP Perpignan faced another challenging moment on the rugby field, succumbing to defeat against Connacht with a score of 31-18 during the Challenge Cup held at Stade Aimé Giral. This match marked their second game of the tournament, following their previous draw against the Cheetahs.
The encounter kicked off with Connacht establishing dominance early on, shocking the French hosts by scoring two tries within the first ten minutes. Byron Ralston’s effort opened the scoring for the Irish side just seven minutes in, swiftly followed by Eoin de Buitlear’s try, putting Connacht up 14-0 before the crowd could even settle.
Despite the early setback, USAP, led by head coach Franck Azéma, clawed their way back with Lorencio Boyer-Gallardo’s try at the 18th minute, bringing the score to 5-14. Antoine Aucagne followed this with a penalty, narrowing the gap to 8-14 at the match's 27-minute mark. The home fans were revived with hope, but Connacht struck again before the break. Chay Mullins crossed the line with just three minutes left, extending Connacht’s advantage to 19-8 at halftime.
The second half saw more determination from the Catalan side, as Aucagne’s penalty right after the break brought the score to 11-19. Jefferson Joseph then added to the score for USAP, crossing the line and scoring yet another pivotal try. The conversion brought the score to merely one point separating the two competitors at 18-19. The USAP supporters surely felt the tide might be turning.
But Connacht demonstrated their experience and composure, responding decisively. Paul Boyle crossed for Connacht shortly after Joseph’s try, ensuring they laid down key points on the board once more. Adam McBurney later solidified the victory with another try, sealing the score at 31-18. Connacht’s triumph not only secured them the match win but also the all-important bonus point, eleviating them to the top of Pool One with 10 points from their opening two matches.
This latest defeat leaves USAP still searching for their first Victory within the Challenge Cup over the past three years. Their failure to capitalize on the chances presented to them became evident yet again, as they fell short not only in execution but also in discipline throughout the game. Coach Azéma remarked on the need for improvement, as he lamented the missed opportunities, stating, “We lack some clever judgment at the end; we need to learn faster. We made the same errors last year.”
Despite showing resilience and moments of brilliance, such as Boyer-Gallardo and Joseph’s tries, the overall performance indicated gaps needing urgent address from the USAP camps as they look to the future.
The loss heightens the pressure on Perpignan as they prepare for their next upcoming challenge against Cardiff, where they will be eager to regain lost momentum and fight for qualification for the knockout stages. A positive result is undoubtedly imperative if they are to keep pace with Connacht and the other teams within the Challenge Cup group.
While the fans showed unwavering support throughout the match, they made it clear through their reactions just how concerned they are about the persistent challenges facing their team. It is clear there are lessons to be learned from this encounter, and Perpignan must dig deep to find the required resolve to set their campaign back on track.
The upcoming matches will be pivotal, and fans will be hoping to see real improvements when Perpignan takes to the field next. Consistency, discipline, and execution must be at the forefront as they prepare for these significant upcoming clashes.
