The 20-20 draw at the Stade Aime Gira against Perpignan cost the Lions a place in the EPCR Challenge Cup, while Perpignan, who ended with the same log points as the Lions, will advance due to a better points difference than that of the Lions.
Antoine Aucagne converted a penalty after just three minutes of play in the first half for USAP.
Despite dominating the first twenty minutes, USAP conceded a penalty try for illegally collapsing a maul. Two minutes later, Chris Smith converted a penalty to extend the Lions’ lead to 10-03.
With ten minutes to play in the half, USAP’s eightman Joaquin Oviedo burst through several tackles from fifteen meters out to score USAP’s first try of the match. Antoine Aucagne converted the try to level the scores 10-10, which was also the halftime score.
The first sixteen minutes of the second half were dominated by the rain, and both teams struggled to play constructive rugby.
Chris Smith converted an easy penalty to put the Lions in front by three points after seventeen minutes of play in the second half.
The Lions' domination in the scrums was the foundation of the Lions' attack, and PJ Botha scored their second try off the back of a lineout maul to extend their lead to 20-10.
USAP struck back five minutes later when Freddy Duguivalu bulldozed his way over in the corner. Following the conversion by Antoine Aucagne, the Lions’ lead was cut to 20-17 and twelfe minutes to play in the second half.
With eight minutes still to play, Antoine Aucagne converted a penalty for USAP to level the scores 20-20, and despite a final desperate effort by the Lions, USAP’s defence held to secure a 20-20 draw.
Scorers:
USAP Perpignan: Tries: Joaquin Oviedo, Freddy Duguivalu. Conversions: Antoine Aucagne (2). Penalty: Antoine Aucagne (2)
Lions: Tries: Penalty Try, PJ Botha. Conversion: Chris Smith. Penalties: Chris Smith (2).
Teams:
USAP Perpignan: 15 Theo Forner, 14 Jordan Petaia, 13 Diego Mascarenc, 12 Duncan Paia’aua, 11 Freddy Duguivalu, 10 Antoine Aucagne, 9 Gela Aprasidze, 8 Joaquin Oviedo, 7 Jamie Ritchie (captain), 6 Mahamadou Diaby, 5 Posolo Tuilagi, 4 Bastien Chinarro, 3 Nemo Roelofse, 2 Ignacio Ruiz, 1 Giorgi Tetrashvili. Replacements: 16 Sama Malolo, 17 Giorgi Beria, 18 Pietro Ceccarelli, 19 Adrien Warion, 20 Mathieu Tanguy, 21 Matteo le Corvec, 22 James Hall, 23 Hugo Reus.
Lions: 15 Quan Horn, 14 Eduan Keyter, 13 Erich Cronje, 12 Henco van Wyk, 11 Angelo Davids, 10 Chris Smith, 9 Haashim Pead, 8 Francke Horn (captain), 7 Batho Hlekani, 6 Renzo du Plessis, 5 Reinhard Nothnager, 4 Etienne Oosthuizen, 3 RF Schoeman, 2 Morne Brandon, 1 Eddie Davids. Replacements: 16 Franco Marais, 17 SJ Kotze, 18 Conraad van Vuuren, 19 Ruben Schoeman, 20 Darrien Landsberg, 21 Siba Mahashe, 22 Nico Steyn, 23 Bronson Mills.