Bourgoin stun the champions

Boyet: Inspired display

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Bourgoin, facing insolvency less than two weeks ago, pulled off a titanic 17-6 shock win over champions Perpignan in the Top 14 on Friday.

The Stade des Alpes in Grenoble rose to acclaim the new local heroes after the match, the first time Bourgoin had 'exported' a match away from the Stade Pierre-Rajon and won.

After a blistering start by the champions which yielded a drop goal from Gavin Hume, the Bourgoin pack put in a magnificent effort, not only holding their own in the scrums but pilfering all sorts of ball at the tackle and making a mess of the Catalan line-out.

By half-time, Bejamin Boyet had landed two penalties to give his side the lead, while Perpignan were restricted to two long shots at goal fom Jerome Porical, both of which drifted to the right.

But the game truly turned in the ten minutes after half-time. Bourgoin hooker Remy Vigneaux made a marvellous break from his own 10m line, before popping the ball to scrum-half John Senio to finish off and give his side an 11-3 lead.

Porical pulled a penalty back, but two quickfire penalties from Boyet near the hour mark put his side in a commanding position.

Penalty after penalty went against the Catalan pack as their attempts to fight back into the game intensified, with Boyet punishing each one of those and each turnover with some magnificent kicking.

Bourgoin prop Arnuad Tchougong was sent to the sin-bin with three minutes remaining, but his effort and that of his pack had done its job.

Perpignan's first place in the Top 14 table is now under threat, while Bourgoin's phoenix from the flames act continues.