Soyaux-Angoulême XV edged out Valence-Romans 17-13 on Thursday, February 26, 2026, in a tightly contested Pro D2 match. The victory provides a crucial boost for the Charentais as they navigate the league standings.
Valence-Romans drew first blood, scoring an early try just two minutes into the game through Adrien Martin, who also added the conversion. They continued to build their lead with a penalty, extending their advantage to 10-0. Although, Soyaux-Angoulême battled back, narrowing the gap with points from Berges, though a potential try was overturned by video review for a prior infraction.
Despite facing a 13-6 deficit at halftime, Soyaux-Angoulême mounted a comeback in the second half. Maxence Lemardelet scored a pivotal try shortly after the restart, shifting the momentum. Benjamin Botica then took over with his accurate kicking, adding two penalties to set Soyaux-Angoulême ahead 14-13 in the 66th minute and sealing the win with another penalty as the clock expired.
The result marks a setback for Valence-Romans, who suffered a defeat just six days prior against Agen (34-23). Despite fielding a team with several young players, they were unable to capitalize on their first-half lead. Valence-Romans will need to regroup quickly as they prepare to face league leaders Vannes on Friday, March 6, 2026.
Soyaux-Angoulême’s win is particularly significant as they aim to climb the Pro D2 table and contend for a playoff spot. The team currently sits ninth, six points behind Brive, who have a game in hand. This hard-fought victory keeps their hopes alive.
