Qovu scores as La Rochelle hit top spot
Burly Fijian lock Jone Qovu helped La Rochelle move into the driving seat in the Top 14 standings when he scored a try as they claim a 27-21 win over Toulouse at Stade Ernest Wallon yesterday.
The visitors were made to work hard for this result especially during the game’s latter stages when Toulouse launched a late fightback.
Both sides crossed for two tries apiece but it was the goalkicking of La Rochelle’s Australian flyhalves Zack Holmes and Brock James which proved the difference between the sides and the duo contributed 17 points between them with Holmes kicking four penalties and James adding a conversion and a penalty. The result means La Rochelle now occupy the top spot on the table on their own after Clermont lost to Castres on Saturday. La Rochelle had the better of the early exchanges and led 6-0 by the 15th minute after Holmes kicked two penalties.
Toulouse struck back with a penalty of their own from Sebastien Bezy but Holmes cancelled that effort out when he landed his third three-pointer from the tee in the 21st minute.
He added his fourth penalty three minutes later before Bezy succeeded with his third one on the half-hour mark, which meant the visitors led 12-6 at half-time. Toulouse came out stronger in the second half and narrowed the gap to a point when Joe Tekori barged over for the opening try in the 51st minute.
James, who came on to replaced Holmes late in the second half, then kicked a penalty in the 55th minute before Qovu crossed for the visitors’ first try two minutes later after James and Jason Eaton did well in the build-up.