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Yato double keeps Perpignan in Top 14
Experienced Fiji lock Peceli Yato scored two tries as Perpignan maintained their French Top 14 status on Sunday with a 47-24 win at second-tier promotion hopefuls Provence in their end-of-season play-off.
Yato, 33, crossed either side of half-time while Argentina No.8 Joaquin Oviedo also claimed two tries as the Catalans won the Top 14 'Access Match' for the fourth time in the five years since they were promoted back to the top flight in 2021.
Winger Theo Forner, hooker Igancio Ruiz and centre Jeronimo de la Fuente also scored for the 2009 French champions in a match worth up to a reported 10 million euros ($11.5 million) for the winners.
Provence, who lost 18-14 to Vannes in the Pro D2 final last weekend, missed out on the chance of a first ever promotion to the top flight.
Perpignan were handed a blow to their hopes when they lost 40-year-old fly-half Benjamin Urdapilleta to injury hours before kick-off.
Province made a blistering start in front of more than 8,500 fans at their Maurice-David stadium as forwards Tornike Jalagonia and Andres Zafra gave them a 10-0 lead after 25 minutes.
It could have been more but Portugal full-back Manuel Vareiro missed both conversions and a penalty.
Perpignan had been hamstrung by two first half cards but the tie, and the four-time champions' destiny, turned on its head five minutes before the break with Yato's first try, a pick-and-go from short range.
Provence then had two of their players sent to the bin as Perpignan took control.
Olympic sevens gold medallist Forner scored thanks to a quick tap penalty from Italy fly-half Tommaso Allan, who slotted the two conversions to make it 14-10 at half-time.
Allan had been Perpignan's hero in the same match last year when his penalty three minutes from time snatched a 13-11 win at Grenoble.
After Oviedo scored his first, former Clermont forward Yato secured his double 10 minutes after the break, with an 80-metre break following an interception.
That took the game away from Provence and although they managed two more second-half tries, the Catalans scored three more as they made their greater power tell to secure their top-flight status to the joy of their 2,000 travelling fans.
Y. Rousseau--BTZ
