Clermont Auvergne 34-29 Ospreys
Clermont Auvergne have survived a second-half comeback from Ospreys to secure a 34-29 win in the European Rugby Champions Cup.
The French side were dealt a blow early on when Alexandre Lapandry was sent to the sin bin with just 12 minutes gone, but the hosts were able to hold the Welsh team to just three points during his absence. Once Clermont were back up to 15 men they started to dominate, resulting in tries for David Strettle and Aurelien Rougerie before half time, putting the home side in a comfortable position at the break.
Ospreys were on the front foot at the start of the second half though as Justin Tipuric powered over for the visiting side's first try of the match, while Eli Walker went over moments later, allowing Dan Biggar to cut the gap to three points with the conversion.
Clermont responded with another dominant spell, resulting in a second try of the afternoon for Strettle before Wesley Fofana sprinted through, securing the bonus point for the hosts. Despite trailing by 17 points with five minutes remaining, Ospreys finished with a flourish, Sam Parry and Tom Habberfield both caught the hosts out with a couple of weaving runs late on, but there was not enough time for the Welsh side to complete the comeback.
Despite the loss, Ospreys remain top in Pool 2, having picked up a bonus point in both of their matches so far, while Clermont sit third.
Clermont Auvergne have survived a second-half comeback from Ospreys to secure a 34-29 win in the European Rugby Champions Cup.
The French side were dealt a blow early on when Alexandre Lapandry was sent to the sin bin with just 12 minutes gone, but the hosts were able to hold the Welsh team to just three points during his absence. Once Clermont were back up to 15 men they started to dominate, resulting in tries for David Strettle and Aurelien Rougerie before half time, putting the home side in a comfortable position at the break.
Ospreys were on the front foot at the start of the second half though as Justin Tipuric powered over for the visiting side's first try of the match, while Eli Walker went over moments later, allowing Dan Biggar to cut the gap to three points with the conversion.
Clermont responded with another dominant spell, resulting in a second try of the afternoon for Strettle before Wesley Fofana sprinted through, securing the bonus point for the hosts. Despite trailing by 17 points with five minutes remaining, Ospreys finished with a flourish, Sam Parry and Tom Habberfield both caught the hosts out with a couple of weaving runs late on, but there was not enough time for the Welsh side to complete the comeback.
Despite the loss, Ospreys remain top in Pool 2, having picked up a bonus point in both of their matches so far, while Clermont sit third.
Stade Francais P-P Munster (due to Paris attacks)
Wasps 32-6 Toulon
Wasp clinched a bonus point in a comfortable 32-6 triumph over Toulon in the second game of their European Rugby Champions Cup campaign. Jonathan Pelissie missed an early penalty and they were made to pay as Wasps went ahead after eight minutes, with some good pressure leading to Nathan Hughes powering over for the try.
The home side went further ahead just a minute later as Ruaridh Jackson chipped the ball over the Toulon defence, Joe Simpson picked it up and played it to Joe Launchbury, who found Jackson again and he raced clear for the Wasps second try. Pelissie put up three points for the French side after a penalty from a power scrum but Elliot Day hit a kick from half-way to extend their lead back to 14 points.
Day could have put his side further ahead but missed his kick before Jackson added another penalty with 10 minutes of the first half remaining, but Pelissie cut the deficit back down just before the break.
In the second half, an excellent run by Charles Piutau splits the Toulon resistance before passing the ball to Frank Halai to sprint clear for another Wasps score. Hughes ran in the Premiership side's bonus point try after a rolling maul allowed the flanker to stretch over and add more to the Wasps' dominant lead but Jackson missed the following conversion.
European Challenge Cup
Newcastle Falcons 55-7 Enisei-STM
Newcastle Falcons have secured their first European Challenge Cup win of the season after a comprehensive 55-7 win over Enisei-STM Krasnoyarsk at Kingston Park.
The hosts took the lead after just six minutes when a kick through from Tom Catterick flew to Zach Kibirige, who grounded the ball for his side's first points. Enisei were no match for Falcons as they conceded a further four tries, with a Mark Wilson hat-trick and an additional try from Marcus Watson helping to establish a 29-7 lead by the break, despite a reply from Denis Simplikevich.
Watson and Kibirige then crossed over a further three times between them in the second half as the Russian outfit were run ragged by their more experienced opponents and succumbed to a heavy defeat.
Newcastle Falcons have secured their first European Challenge Cup win of the season after a comprehensive 55-7 win over Enisei-STM Krasnoyarsk at Kingston Park.
The hosts took the lead after just six minutes when a kick through from Tom Catterick flew to Zach Kibirige, who grounded the ball for his side's first points. Enisei were no match for Falcons as they conceded a further four tries, with a Mark Wilson hat-trick and an additional try from Marcus Watson helping to establish a 29-7 lead by the break, despite a reply from Denis Simplikevich.
Watson and Kibirige then crossed over a further three times between them in the second half as the Russian outfit were run ragged by their more experienced opponents and succumbed to a heavy defeat.
No comments:
Post a Comment