Nevers is taken over by the mob

PETER JACKSON

Nevers is about as close to being smack bang in the centre of France as any city gets, a place which has known the odd disturbance or two since Julius Caesar claimed it for ancient Rome.

With the play-offs in the French Second Division coming nicely to the boil, last weekend’s arrival of a more traditional foe was always going to be a tasty affair.

Instead it proved to be perhaps the most mob-handed outbreak of lawlessness witnessed since Caesar, with the possible exception of the Second World War.

Grenoble, heading the procession of play-off contenders behind champions-elect Oyonnax, upset Mathieu Noirot to such an extent that the referee appeared to blitz all records in a veritable blizzard of yellow cards.

Monsieur Noirot binned five Grenoble players in a matter of 12 minutes during the second half. So many departed in such a short time that the Stade du Pre Fleuri, sited in the village of Sermoise-sur-Loire, must have run out of naughty chairs for the miscreants.

The first four went in eight minutes, reducing Grenoble to 11. Nevers were given two yellows of their own, a minor inconvenience during the course of enhancing their own promotion challenge with a 31-14 home win.

With Nevers up to fourth and Grenoble second, the prospect of their colliding again in the play-offs cannot be discounted.

Rumours that the hosts are extending their sin-bin just in case have yet to be confirmed…