Rugby à 7 - Les Rascasses make it to the finish line

Of their three matches on the day, the Rascasses kicked off their cup campaign with a 10-7 win in the Northern Isles derby against the Archigirls of Saint-Martin. It's a well-deserved victory," says coach Fabien Maurel. The final score doesn't reflect the way the game went, as we had almost total possession throughout. "In the next match, against Bruc des Abymes, the intensity and commitment went up a notch. At half-time, the Saint-Barth rugbywomen were leading by a try (7-0). "It was our best half of the tournament, with a lot of possession, a lot of possession, and a superb try. After that, we went into a slump in the second half, conceding three tries in quick succession. We picked ourselves up but couldn't score in the final moments," comments coach Fabien Maurel. A 7-15 defeat, "rich in lessons", according to the blue and white staff.
The last match, a 0-24 defeat by Guadeloupe champions Good Luck, could well be forgotten. But he recalls the team's shortage of players. We only had eight players available for this last match," recalls the coach. Even if other clubs lend us players to make up the numbers if necessary, for us, the deal is to play together as often as possible, and to do that we're still short of players, whether beginners or experienced. "
Not surprisingly, the Rascasses have shown enormous mental strength for their coach. "This tournament has made us grow up a lot. The girls have realized that they are capable of great things and even more, especially the new players," says the Saint Barth manager. These new players include Marjolaine Ferra. Jerseyed with the number 1 on her back, she started playing rugby last season and, via this tournament, has logged her first minutes in 7-a-side rugby: "I find 7-a-side rugby quite different from 10-a-side rugby, but it's really exciting! You have to be more versatile, faster and tougher too, because 7 minutes per half is a long time (laughs). I've been lucky enough to score a try in this tournament, and that's thanks to the whole team! The most gratifying thing is to see the results of our training, when we play the matches. It's been a long time since I've felt this pride in belonging to a team. We had a great time, and I wouldn't change teams for the world! "concludes the Saint-Barth player.
Before the next Guadeloupe Cup, scheduled for January 11 2025, the Rascasses will be wearing the jersey of the Iles du Nord in association with the Archigirls of Saint Martin. They will kick off their league campaign with a match against defending champions Good Luck de Gosier at the Stade de Saint-Jean.