Perfect Jaminet boots Toulouse to victory over Montpellier
TOP 14 SUNDAY REPORT: Melvyn Jaminet enjoyed a 100 percent success rate with the boot as he seized his chance in the absence of Thomas Ramos and Romain Ntamack to lead Toulouse to a 19-17 win over Top 14 champions Montpellier on Sunday.
Jaminet succeeded with all five of his kicks at goal as the 21-time champions of France went top of the table, moving a point ahead of European champions La Rochelle.
Jaminet took over kicking duties with French star Ramos starting on the bench and fellow international back Ntamack rested.
His personal 14-point haul was highlighted by a monster 60-metre penalty which secured the victory and allowed the 23-year-old fullback to keep up his perfect kicking record since moving to Toulouse from Perpignan in the off-season.
Montpellier boss Philippe Saint-Andre said it was a “bitter defeat”.
“We want to win our home matches. We wanted to take first place but Toulouse were more efficient and pragmatic than us,” he admitted.
Toulouse enjoyed a flying start to the game when centre Dimitri Delibes scored a try after sprinting away from the halfway line.
However, Montpellier edged ahead by the break thanks to tries from fullback Anthony Bouthier in the eighth minute and prop forward Enzo Forletta plunging over just before the half-hour mark.
The boot of Jaminet proved decisive in the second period although Toulouse’s evening ended on a low note when replacement lock forward Emmanuel Meafou was red-carded.
French Top 14 results on Saturday:
Bordeaux-Begles 15-10 Stade Francais
Clermont 43-20 Lyon
Brive 25-22 Bayonne
Pau 17-34 Toulon
Perpignan 14-10 Castres
La Rochelle 24-19 Racing92
Result on Sunday:
Montpellier 17-19 Toulouse
