FRANCE FEDERALE 17
NCL EAGLES 30
The National Conference League Eagles gained their first ever victory when overcoming a combative France Federale side in Nantes.
In a tightly-contested game, the Eagles showed solid defence and no little attacking flair to run in two late tries which took the game away from the French to give them their historic win.
With a previous defeat to France B and then a draw against Morocco, the Eagles were eager to pick up their first victory and with Neil Wall outstanding, they did just that.
The Eagles got the best possible start, with hooker Danny Kay burrowing over after just three minutes, captain Paul Evans converting for the first of his five goals.
Their discipline, which was a thorn in their side all afternoon, let them down however, and France Federale pegged them back with three penalties, all kicked by Sebastien Chastaing.
The French doubled their lead with a carbon copy of the Eagles try, scrum half Lionel Munoz going in from acting half with 25 minutes gone. The Eagles hit back immediately, Lee James touching down after a smart kick from Mick Hill and Evans landing a touchline conversion to tie the scores. The French seized the advantage going into the break with a late drop goal from Fabien Bourrell making the score 13-12 at the interval.
France capitalised on more indiscipline from the Eagles early on in the second period, Chastaing goaling another penalty after an off the ball incident, for which Chris Geoghegan was sent to the sin bin.
Despite the man deficit, however, the Eagles retook the lead with a superb try from Dudley Hill winger Neil Wall as he scored in the corner after some lovely handling down the line. But Evan's conversion attempt came back off the post, and the French responded with a further penalty to retake the lead.
The Eagles forwards were in superb form though and defensively they were superb and after withstanding two consecutive sets on their line, the Eagles pressed ahead with another try from Wall, who burst through two would-be tacklers ten metres from his own line and raced the length of the pitch to score with twenty minutes remaining. Evans converted, and then held his nerve to put the Eagles two scores in front with a penalty from 40 metres.
The Eagles on the wrong end of a 19-9 penalty count again made life hard for themselves as Rob Kershaw was binned after retaliating when he had been held down, but the English side sealed the victory with a try from Lee James, who went under the posts after a smart passing move down the left with minutes remaining.
NCL EAGLES
2 - Rob Kershaw (Mayfield)
5 - Neil Wall (Dudley Hill)
3 - Anthony Dixon (Millom)
4 - Tom Wood (Cas Lock Lane)
1 - Lee James (Myton Warriors)
6 - Paul Evans (Millom) Captain
7 - Mick Hill (Normanton)
8 - Glynn Watson (Eccles SJ)
9 - Danny Kay (St Annes)
10 - John Fox (St Annes)
11 - Gareth English (Ovenden)
12 - Marc Jones (Eccles SJ)
13 - Steve Barry (Eccles SJ)
subs all used
14 - Nathan Kitson (Dudley Hill)
16 - Aidan Gleeson (Mayfield)
17 - Chris Geoghegan (Ovenden)
19 - Adam Walker (Saddleworth)
20 - Glenn Holland (Thatto Heath)
Tries: Kay (3), L James (27, 75), Wall (55, 60)
Goals: Evans 5
Sin bins: Geoghegan (45) for punching
Kershaw (67) for retaliation
FRANCE FEDERALE
1 - Ismael Navarlas (Beziers)
2 - Pierre Martinet (Begies)
3 - Alexandre Escapa (St Martins)
4 - Cyril Lazaro (Trentels)
5 - Laurent Bosch (St Laurent)
6 - Fabien Bourrell (Ornaisons)
7 - Lionel Munoz (Homps)
13 - David Trastet (Pamiers)
12 - Gregory Hallier (La Reole)
11 - Jean-Luc Angelini (Roanne)
10 - Sadio Sissoko (Paris Charenton)
9 - Richard Bel (Pamiers) Captain
8 - Aurelien Foret (Gratentour)
subs all used
14 - Mattheiu Zokou (Paris Charenton)
15 - Sebastien Chastaing (Gratentour)
16 - Brice Nutini (Homps)
17 - Julien Lacrambe (Gratentour)
18 - Julien Dubourg (La Reole)
Tries: Munoz (25)
Goals: Chastaing 6
Drop Goal: Bourell 1
Halftime 13-12
Attendance - Est 500
League Express and rugby leaguer man of the match
France Federale - Fabien Bourrell NCL Eagles - Neil Wall
Gamestar: Neil Wall with two cracking tries.
Gamebreaker: Neil walls 90 metre score pushed the Eagles two scores ahead and out of the French reach.
