RYAN SMITH PLAYS IN LOSING T 14 GAME VERSUS AUCH  2nd December 2007

A light rain made for a slippery ball, and Montauban were faced with Auch, a team seeking a first victory with a committed, but simple game plan well-suited to the conditions. Montauban, with Brampton's Ryan Smith again playing in the centres, could not find the answer to their simple tactics.  Montauban lost by 19 to 13, each team scoring one try.

The first half was all in Auch's favour. They scored a try through the old Montauban player Benoit Albert. Then suddenly, in a brilliant counter attack, Emmanuel Cassin on the wing scored a try as well.  

Having limited the damage you might think that Montauban would have found a way to take over the game in the second half. This did not happen. The suspense lasted right to the end, as we awaited the winning try. And, on the last play of the game Montauban's replacement prop Ibrahim Diarra scored, but the play was called back for a forward pass. Sec ond placed Montauban takes home a bonus point from this loss to their twelfth ranked neighbours Auch and fall to fifth place in the table.

MONTAUBAN : Avramovic ; Audrin, Jahouer, Smith, Cassin ; (0) Fortassin, (m) Garcia ; Raynaud (cap), Clarkin (Soldan 63e), Caballero (Diarra 74e) ; Frost (Ghezal 68e), Rolland ; Sa (Blanco 52e), Traversa, Henn (Balan 72e).
Remplacements temporaires : Clarkin par Balan (26e – 29e), Clarkin par Blanco (33e – 45e), Raynaud par Balan (53e – 63e).