RYAN SMITH PLAYS FOR MONTAUBAN IN  FRIENDLY MATCH VS NARBONNE   12th March 2007

Brampton's Ryan Smith played the full match for France Super 14 Club Montauban in a friendly encounter against Narbonne. During the 6 Nations Championship the top 14 Clubs suspend their competitive season until 24th March 2007, but friendly matches keep teams tuned for the return of play.

Montauban Tarn-et Garonne (MTG) returned to competitive play by traveling  to Carcassonne for the game against RC Narbonne Mediterranean and won the match 19 - 14. It was a committed and serious game throughout. "We finished the first half of the season with a loss at home against Albi, which upset us. This match provided some good therapy, "said captain Fauqué. Coach Laurent Labit noted that "We need to get some victories under our belt before we meet Agen in the next Championship game."

On the Narbonne pitch at the foot of the city, Montauban wasted no time in getting into the game. From the kick-off, prop Matthew Clarkin took a quickly tapped penalty and fed Damien Duffau whose great strides outpaced the home side's defence for a try. Fauqué converted two of the tries. Ryan's fellow Canadian Mike Pyke came on at full back at 42 minutes.

Narbonne equalizd at the end of the half through prop Jean-Marie Bisaro, finishing off a handling move from a quickly tapped penalty. In the second half, with the wind at their backs Montauban stuck to their game plan of efficient kicking Rugby. Twice these tactics allowed right wing Adrien Figueiredo to finish off tries, the second of which was from a kick into his hands that was inch perfect. Fauqué converted one of the tries.

The reaction from Narbonne was predictably to launch wave after wave of attacks, but the Montauban defence remained unbreached.

MONTAUBAN : Duffau (Pyke 42e) ; Figueiredo (Etcheverria 67e), Viard (Albert 46e), Smith, Cassin ; (0) Fauqué (cap) (Viard 79e), (m) Garcia (Audy 58e) ; Diarra (Immelman 40e puis Diarra 58e), Clarkin (Caballero 67e), Caballero (Raynaud 46e) ; Vaïtanaki (Frost 40e), Rolland ; Kopaliani (Blanco 33e puis Kopaliani 78e), Traversa (Testa 40e), Henn.
Temporary replacements: Caballero – Kopaliani (37e – 46e). Yellow card : Henn (37e).

NARBONNE : Bouquié ; Nègre-Gauthier, Van Rensburg, Mazars, Candelon ; (0) Nadau, (m) Séron (cap) ; Bisaro, Delpy, Haare ; Springay, Eksteen ; Hooper, Algret, Talomera.
Replacements: Rofes, Mololo, Ducalcon, Regy, Balue, Noutary, Benassis.  Yellow card: Hooper (37e).