Michalak inspires Lyon to victory

Editor

Frederic Michalak scored a try and kicked 12 points to help Lyon overcome Pau 27-22 at the Matmut Stadium on Sunday.

Two early penalties by Tom Taylor saw Pau took an 6-0 lead before Taiasina Tuifua scored the opening try of the game to edge the hosts forward. When Michalak dotted down four minutes later Lyon took a 14-6 lead before Taylor pulled three points back with a penalty.

Michalak exchanged penalties with Taylor for a 17-12 half-time lead.

Taylor brough Pau withing striking distance with another penalty kick but the home side went further ahead when they were awarded a penalty try five minutes later which Michalak converted.

Watisoni Votu brought the visitors within seven points with his side’s first try of the match but the Lyon defence held firm in the last 10 minutes to secure the victory.

The scorers:

For Lyon
Tries:
Tuifua, Michalak, Penalty try
Cons: Michalak 3
Pens: Michalak 2

For Pau
Try:
Votu
Cons: Taylor 1
Pens: Taylor 5
Yellow Card: Ramsay

Lyon: 15 Delon Armitage, 14 Toby Arnold, 13 Theo Belan, 12 Rudi Wulf, 11 Napolioni Nalaga, 10 Mike Harris, 9 Frederic Michalak, 8 Carl Fearns, 7 Virgile Bruni, 6 Julien Bonnaire, 5 Thibault Privat, 4 Taiasina Tuifua, 3 Francisco Gomez Kodela, 2 Mickael Ivaldi, 1 Albertus Buckle
Replacements: 16 Ti’I Paulo, 17 Alexandre Menini, 18 Josh Bekhuis, 19 Deon Fourie, 20 Agustin Figuerola, 21 Jacques-Louis Potgieter, 22 Thibault Regard, 23 BJ Botha

Pau: 15 Charly Malie, 14 Louis Dupichot, 13 Conrad Smith, 12 Tom Taylor, 11 Mosese Ratuvou, 10 Colin Slade, 9 Julien Tomas, 8 James Coughlan, 7 Steffon Armitage, 6 Paddy Butler, 5 Julien Pierre, 4 Fabrice Metz, 3 Malik Hamadache, 2 Thomas Bianchin, 1 Geoffrey Moise
Replacements: 16 Mehdi Boundjema, 17 Jamie Mackintosh, 18 Daniel Ramsay, 19 Ben Mowen, 20 Thibault Daubagna, 21 Jale Vatubua, 22 Watisoni Votu, 23 Matthew Tierney

Referee: Adrien Descotte