Our Federale 1 favourites pick up a fillip - and a trophy - in the Coupe de l'Esperance as thoughts turn to Fed1 survival

A week before their final Federale 1 clash with Orthez, Le Bugue picked up a pot in the shape of the Coupe de l'Esperance with a 36-16 victory over Pool E rivals Saint-Medard-en-Jalles.

The final was the first of a double-header at Perigueux's Stade Municipal on Sunday, les Chevaliers and les Poudriers taking centre stage before Valence d'Agen and Marmande-Casteljaloux met in the senior Challenge de l'Esperance final. Both competitions are cup tournaments for Federale 1 clubs - the Coupe is a 'plate'-style competition for teams who finished in the bottom half of the single pool after the round robin stage.

Le Bugue and Saint-Medard are familiar with each other after two meetings in the same competition earlier in the season and the two recent play-down ties which saw each side claim a narrow home win. The first half of the final was just as tight as lock Sebastien Roger's eighth minute try following neat line-out work was cancelled out by three penalties from Saint-Medard fly-half Guillaume Cazelle, the result of some especially fussy refereeing.

Charly Platek kicked a penalty for Le Bugue on the stroke of half-time to send them in only 8-9 down at the interval, and after the break it was all Albuga. First centre Neric Hervé scored a try after a break from Platek gave Le Bugue a platform in the opposition half.

Winger Wesley Fargier had replaced Morgan Souply at half time and made it 22-9 on 55 minutes with his first try of the afternoon, Platek converting. Saint-Médard struck back on the hour with their only try courtesy of lock Nicolas Salis, but Le Bugue held out to take the spoils with two late tries, Terry Fanolua scoring on 70 minutes and Fargier completing the win with his second try six minutes from time.

The Coupe is a timely addition to Le Bugue's trophy room after a vastly improved new year, but the real celebrations will hopefully come on Sunday as the blue-and-whites hope to pick up the one point they need at Orthez to ensure Federale 1 survival.

(Oh, and Valence d'Agen beat Marmande 19-16 in the Challenge final. Like you care.)