Stade’s relegation concerns increase after Oyonnax loss

Oyonnax boosted their survival hopes and added to Stade Francais’ relegation worries following a 33-27 triumph at the Stade Charles-Mathon.

Ben Botica was once again in fine form and his three penalties to Jules Plisson’s one gave the hosts a 9-3 lead after 15 minutes.

Although Willem Alberts touched down soon after, the home side continued to control proceedings. Adrien Buononato’s men played some excellent rugby and the Parisians’ defence struggled to contain their speed out wide.

Daniel Ikpefan particularly profited and crossed the whitewash to regain Oyonnax’s advantage before Hika Elliot’s effort increased their buffer.

Buononato’s team were rampant and went 28-10 ahead through Botica, but a penalty try – after Irakli Mirtskhulava had been sin-binned – gave the visitors hope.

It was the score Stade needed to garner some momentum, despite Ikpefan’s second try initially opening the gap once again.

Oyonnax started to make errors and the away team capitalised as Julien Arias and Marvin O’Connor went over, but the basement-dwellers just about held on.

The scorers:

For Oyonnax:
Tries: Ikpefan 2, Elliot, Botica
Cons: Botica 2
Pens: Botica 3
Yellow Card: Mirtskhulava

For Stade Francais:
Tries: Alberts, penalty try, Arias, O’Connor
Con: Plisson
Pen: Plisson
Yellow Card: Plisson

Oyonnax: 15 Quentin Etienne, 14 Dug Codjo, 13 Vincent Lasmarrigues, 12 Ulupano Seuteni, 11 Daniel Ikpefan, 10 Ben Botica, 9 James Hall, 8 Curtis Browning, 7 Bilel Taieb, 6 Hika Elliot, 5 Valentin Ursache, 4 Phoenix Battye, 3 Irakli Mirtskhulava, 2 Quentin MacDonald, 1 Tommy Raynaud
Replacements: 16 Benjamin Geledan, 17 Vincent Debaty, 18 Steven Sykes, 19 Patrick Sobela, 20 Jeremy Gondrand, 21 Mitch Inman, 22 Christian Njewel, 23 Thomas Laclayat

Stade Francais: 15 Tony Ensor, 14 Julien Arias, 13 Waisea Nayacalevu, 12 Jonathan Danty, 11 Marvin O’Connor, 10 Jules Plisson, 9 Clement Daguin, 8 Sergio Parisse, 7 Sekou Macalou, 6 Willem Alberts, 5 Alexandre Flanquart, 4 Paul Gabrillagues, 3 Paul Alo-Emile, 2 Laurent Sempere, 1 Heinke Van der Merwe
Replacements: 16 Laurent Panis, 17 Elias El Ansari, 18 Mathieu De Giovanni, 19 Hugh Pyle, 20 Terry Bouhraoua, 21 Morne Steyn, 22 Jimmy Yobo, 23 Ramiro Herrera

Referee: Tual Trainini
Assistant referees: Pierre Brousset, Bruno Gabaldon
TMO: Eric Gonthier