European Rugby 10th December

European Challenge Cup 

Agen 20-40 Grenoble 

Grenoble have held off a strong recovery from Agen to secure a 40-20 victory over their fellow Top 14 side in Pool 5 of the European Rugby Challenge Cup. 

The visitors were looking to enhance their challenge in the group and they got off to the perfect start as it took less than a minute for Xavier Mignot to crash over and record the first score. Sona Taumalolo scored the first of his three tries on the night after 12 minutes to extend the early lead, and veteran Tongan added his second before the half hour, with Agen's only response coming in the form of a Bautista Guemes penalty. 

The 34-year-old completed a first-half hat-trick six minutes later to secure the bonus point and give Grenoble a 25-point lead at the break, but Agen launched a remarkable fightback in the second half to move to within eight. First Marc Baget went over the cut the deficit, before Marc Barthomeuf and Marius Deguilhem scored as the hosts threatened to complete the most unlikely of comebacks. 

However, it was not to be as a penalty try and a second score from Mignot secured a 40-20 victory for Grenoble to ensure that they kept up the pressure on Edinburgh and London Irish in Pool 5. 


Worcester Warriors 22-34 Gloucester 

Gloucester have made it three wins from three in European Rugby Challenge Cup Pool 4 by running in five tries to see off Aviva Premiership rivals Worcester Warriors with a 34-22 win at Sixways Stadium. 

The holders sat at the top of the Pool at the start of the evening and after both sides struggled for the first momentum in the opening minutes they took the lead through a penalty as World Rugby Player of the Year nominee Greg Laidlaw slotted between the posts.

Despite that early setback, it was Warriors who went over for the first score of the game with 12 minutes on the clock to bring the home fans to life as winger Dean Hammond has ran in from 35 yards to score at the corner, with Ryan Lamb adding the extras from a difficult angle. 

However, the initiative was handed to the visitors when Warriors prop Gareth Milasinovich was yellow-carded, and Gloucester took immediate advantage as Henry Purdy was found by Mark Atkinson's well-weighted cross kick to expose the space and crash over and put his side back in front. The momentum was all Gloucester's, and though Lamb knocked over a drop goal as the first-half clock turned red to level the score at 10-10 at the break, Purdy went over for a second time after 13 minutes of the second 40 to restore the lead. 

That signalled the start of a flurry of second-half tries as both sides inflicted further damage, first as Rob Cook went over in the corner to extend the lead before Mikey Daniels cut the difference back to five with 15 minutes remaining after Lewis Ludlow was sin-binned. However, Worcester's revival was short-lived as Laidlaw broke and found Stevie McColl for his third try in three games to secure the bonus point for Gloucester with 11 remaining, and Billy Twelvetrees collected a well-placed chip to seal the win. 

Darren O'Shea had time to score a consolation third try for Worcester, but Gloucester were too strong as they held on to continue their 100% record in Pool 4.