Spent too long having some downtime after the end of the season, so I'm a little off the ball here. Round 1 underway domestically with a 'Magic' weekend at Lézignan. Villeneuve beat SOA 30-10 in the opener. ASC 2-0 up on FCL early in the second.

I'll have a full review for you after.

two good victories by Villeneuve & Lezignan - FCL struggled against a strong wind and a determined Carcassonne side but showed their superiority in the second half - should be even stronger when Philip L gets a game
any idea what's happening with the Leopards & Stanley Gene ?

UTC 30-30 Carpentras.

Montpellier 4-4 St Go Toulouse early in the first half.

St Go won 40-28. Pia beat Limoux 28-20.

Anyone go that can give us a taste of how it was?

30-30? We need to work on our defence. Was that St Go TO, or am I thinking the wrong club?

calling 'timtum' maybe for a general appraisal of the weekend ?

Maybe some of last seasons SL defence played

Long season though.

Thanks sanjunien - I'm only a part timer on here.....

A bit overly rugby leagued to be honest having watched seven games over the weekend (the magique plus the NRL and the Leeds v Wigan). I've also got a slightly singed bonce from sitting on the open side terracing at the Moulins for several hours.

Overall impressions are that it was a good occasion, around 2500-3000 there each day with a good few over from each of the more far flung clubs. I even saw someone with a Montpellier RL flag which must be a first.

The first game was pretty awful with SO Avignon looking someway off the pace and Villeneuve not looking good enough to exploit it. Still ran away with the score at the end. I didn't see Aaron Wood playing for SOA.

The ASC v FCL game was a bit of a cracker. Luc Mendes has set his stall out to promote an attractive, open, dare I say French style of play and they gave Lezignan the run around for the first half with a splendid offloading game. The second half saw the wind pick up in the favour of the home team and they played a grinding style of rugby (again......) to out muscle Carcassonne. Mendes was pretty annoyed that the Carca boys had lost the game plan after citrons and got sucked into a grinding up the middle game which they were bound to lose. Leuluai looked a bit scary with some charging runs and was resplendent the following day in a Manchester City t shirt. Marvellous.

Next day, after a bit too much hooligan soup at Chez Felix for the ESL game saw the three game marathon. UTC against Carpentras was a good scrap with the result in doubt until right at the end. The bigger Tamghart was a stand out for RCC who could have won it at the end if Lee Patterson had been able to convert from the sideline. The young half back for UTC looked lively again (the lad who's been playing for the Roosters in the past few weeks), Big Carlos played well with the ballon perdu count at nil, Seb Martins gave his typically indolent performance. Could be anything that lad if only he had a bit of mongrel. Montpellier next up against St Go/TO. Montpellier I feared for a bit, but Dunneman has got them very, very well drilled in both attack and defence. They are not the biggest physically and lost a bit in the collision and in one on one situations, but stuck to the task for the full 80. Only some interception passes and full length tries saw their undoing. Good turnout from their fans as well. A brief cameo appearance right at the end from one of the great French centres of recent years Dulac (he now seems world class at having a pet lip).

Final game was a good un with Pia too strong down the middle of the pitch for a brave Limoux side who stuck manfully to their task. They were just unable to match the size of the Pia forwards with big Artie Shead giving the Grizzlies a torrid time. The young full back for Pia was about eight stone wet through but a fantastic stepping game.

So that was it. The Refs society seem to have got together and done a bit of a Cummings (technical term that one). Very, very picky at the play the ball. The usually excellent Drizza blew for 23 penalties in the ASC/FCL game. Grandjean looked unwell and for an ex player remarkably unsympathetic to the vagaries of the game. As my mate put it, they need to remember that refereeing is an art not a science. Well put. Only one completely over the top challenge in the whole weekend which saw one of the SOA boys go for a ten minute sit down.

Really hope they repeat this (as rumours have it they will) later in the season. Goulding and his entourage were there for the whole of the weekend before heading off to Albi for training camp. I wish them luck.

brilliant effort timtum ! you will be rewarded my son,do you accept Green Shield Stamps ?

Round 2 results:

Montpellier 22-38 FCL
Pia 62- 14 Villeneuve - oof
Limoux 30-40 Carpentras - shocker
St Go 28-30 SOA
ASC 32-12 UTC

Seems from my report from the Albert D that Carcassone gifted 2 tries under the posts to UTC

I only caught the second half of the Limoux - Carpentras game on my way back from the airport.

Its good to see the boys from far away playing a disciplined (ish) game and being lead around the pitch superbly by Guigue and Patterson in particular. His passing game was the difference in the 40 minutes that I saw. Game breaker was the sinbinning on 25 minutes for Limoux after a nothing tackle which saw an all in brawl. Harsh from the ref with my black and red glasses on....

Well drilled Carpentras outfit with Limoux looking to get Wagon on the pitch for some inspiration. Clearly missing his influence, and with Murcia appearing to carry a bit too much bide (and so slowing him to timtum pace), and without his old ami Piccolo, they were pedestrian in attack.

Patterson's passing game a class apart. He has little in the legs, but his brain seems to be a pace or two too fast for the defences. Got a lovely pass off both hands which repeatedly put players through the gap.

Having been at Old Trafford last night, I said to my mate that I enjoyed the 40 minutes at les Aiguilles as much as the Wigan Saints game....

Great again to hear about the Montpellier showing.

enjoyed the half-match report from timtum (did you pay half-price to get in or did you flash the old Press Pass ?) until you mentioned 'Wigan' - the flag is still at half mast in the sanjunien household after a shocking Saints effort.
I thought Paterson was selected for the Scottish squad or was he allowed to play this match ? or is this a different player ? I really fancy Carpentras this season especially with the addition of Said Tamghard - how did he play ? - i'd love to see him at TO
Well done FCL again - they already look THE team to beat and what the heck is happening at Villeneuve ?

There are two Lee Patersons - the Halifax goal-kicking centre/winger and the RCCC and sometime Widnes half-back/loose forward. Carpentras's Lee Paterson has played for Scotland before, dunno about the Halifax one's heritage. Think it's time to break out the middle initials in a Gary H/Gary S Price stylee....

yes,I met both Lee Patersons last year strangely enough,one against the TO side and the other against Villeneuve but according to the official Scotland squad list the Lee Paterson mentioned is from Carpentras - either an error by the press or Steve Mac allowed him some kind of dispensation to play ? Personally I would play them BOTH if I were Steve Mack ! now that WOULD be confusing...