Provence strengthen Pro D2 start with Colomiers win

Provence have made an early statement in Pro D2, winning their opening two matches and returning to the top end of the division. Colomiers, meanwhile, have lost both of their first games and are already under pressure after another home defeat.

The Aix-en-Provence side prevailed 18-13 at the Michel-Bendichou stadium on Thursday, repeating their success at the same ground from just over three months earlier. Provence had beaten Colomiers 36-28 there in the Pro D2 semi-final before going on to lose the championship final and the promotion-relegation access match.

Adrien Lapègue opened the scoring with a try after 15 minutes, but Provence then lost Hugo Ndiaye to a red card in the 21st minute. Despite playing with 14 men for around an hour and finishing with only 13, they extended their advantage through Setareti Bituniyata before the break. Colomiers replied through Alberto Carmona, leaving the visitors 12-8 ahead at half-time.

Joris Cazenave’s points restored some breathing room early in the second half, although Grégoire Bazin soon answered with a long-range try for the hosts. Provence held on under sustained pressure after Caleb Muntz was sin-binned, with Colomiers also losing a decisive lineout late on. The result follows Provence’s 44-10 victory over Agen and leaves Colomiers recovering from consecutive defeats, including a 38-26 loss at Soyaux-Angoulême.