RUGBY UNION CHAMPIONS
CUP
FRIDAY
OSPREYS 21-13 CLERMOUNT
BIGGER BOOT PUTS
OSPREYS IN CONTROL
Sam Davies came off the bench to guide Ospreys to a comeback
win over Clermont Auvergne that puts them top of Pool Two in the European
Champions Cup.
The replacement fly-half kicked 15 points after the break to
put the Welsh region within touching distance of the quarter-finals.
Clermont, who drop to second with one game left, looked in
full control after a dominant first half put them 13-6 up with a Parra try.
But the French side's grip loosened and Davies was faultless
with the boot.
Clermont left without even a losing bonus-point, and Ospreys
will now head to the final game at Exeter on 24 January with their destiny in
their own hands as they seek to reach the last eight for the first time since
the 2009-10 season
Another win for the Ospreys and they will go through to the
quarter finals. I think for a team likle them this season they are doing very
well.
SATURDAY
SARACENS 33-17 ULSTER
SARACENS JUST
OUTCLASS ULSTER
Saracens made the European Champions Cup quarter-finals with
a commanding victory over Ulster at Allianz Park.
Luke Marshall's neat early score had put the visitors ahead
before Billy Vunipola crossed from a rolling maul to give Saracens a narrow
half-time lead.
The Premiership leaders cut loose after the break though,
with Duncan Taylor going over before forwards Maro Itoje and Schalk Brits got
in on the act
Saracens look a force at the moment as for Ulster only a
bonus point win gives them any chance.
ONNOYAX 32-14 TOLOUSE
BORDEUX 34-27 EXETER
BORDEUXZ WIN LEAVES
GROUP WIDE OPEN
Exeter's hopes of making the European Champions Cup
quarter-finals were dented by valiant defeat in an eight-try thriller against
Bordeaux.
An open first half ended level as Will Hooley's reliable
boot - and Dave Lewis and Byron McGuigan's breakaway tries - made up for
Exeter's sparse possession.
Max Bodilly's superb long-range score kept Exeter in touch
after the break.
But, with Hooley in the sin bin, replacement Marco Tauleigne
cantered in for the decisive score.
A win here would have left Exeter’s fate in their own hands
but the defeat leaves it that any one of the 4 teams can top this group.
MUNSTER 26-13 STADE
FRANCAIS
STANDER TRY GIVES
MUSTER CONFIDENCE BOOSTER
Munster avoided the indignity of a fourth straight European
defeat for the first time as they beat Stade Francais in the Champions Cup at
Thomond Park.
A superb Keith Earls score just before the break put
fired-up Munster 12-6 ahead after an earlier Mike Sherry try
Further second-half Munster tries from Simon Zebo and CJ
Stander were split by a Jono Ross score for Stade.
Munster's knock-out hopes were already over and the result
is a huge blow to Stade's chances of qualification.
Munster are showing in this match that they can get back to
who they were many years ago and I think a win like this can only boost
confidence. As for Stade it is q1uite the opposite as defeat might put them out
of the European champion’s cup.
LEISTER 37-7 TREVISO
BONUS POINT WIN
SECURES QUARTER FINAL
Leicester booked a home European Champions Cup quarter-final
as they ran in seven tries in a comprehensive win over Benetton Treviso.
Michael Fitzgerald began the rout before Vereniki Goneva,
Freddie Burns, Adam Thompstone and Ben Youngs scored.
Replacement Laurence Pearce crossed for the final try deep
in the second half.
Centre Manu Tuilagi, making his first start in 15 months
after a groin injury, lasted 51 minutes before making way for replacement Peter
Betham.
Leister looked very good this season and simple win over Treviso
can only help them.
LEINSTER 25-11 BATH
CRONINS TRY ALLOWS
LEINSTER TO SHOUT
Bath's hopes of a European Champions Cup quarter-final came
to a dispiriting end as they were well beaten by a youthful Leinster side in
Dublin.
The Irish side, who had already been eliminated before the
match, led at half-time through Ian Madigan's boot.
Bath got within range when number eight Leroy Houston nudged
his way over on 59 minutes to cut the hosts' lead to 15-8.
But from the restart, Leinster regained the ball and hooker
Sean Cronin crashed through to all but end the contest.
There is something wrong at Leinster right now they have the
players and the squad but do not seem to be winning matches they should all
season. This was a match they shouldn’t win but they did they need to bottle
this and give it to others when low on confidence.
SUNDAY
RACING 64-14 SCARLETS
IMHOFF DOUBLE PUTS
RACING IN DREAMLAND
Racing 92 sealed their place in the last eight of the
European Champions Cup as they consigned Scarlets to a record defeat in the
competition.
The Pro12 leaders were outclassed and made to pay dearly for
indiscipline as Racing scored nine tries - five of them before half-time.
Dan Carter kicked faultlessly for 13 points, with man of the
match Casey Laulala scoring a hat-trick of tries.
NORTHAMPTON 19-15
GLASGOW
MALLANDER TRY MAKES
THIS NOT GLASGOWS YEAR
Harry Mallinder scored a late try to give Northampton
victory over Glasgow and revive their hopes of making the European Champions
Cup last eight.
Teimana Harrison had shunted over from close in to give
Saints the lead, but three Finn Russell penalties put Glasgow 9-7 up soon after
the break.
Christian Day's try restored Saints' lead but two more
penalties saw Glasgow open a three-point advantage at 15-12.
But Glasgow were reduced to 14 men and punished by
Mallinder's late score
This felt like it would be Glasgow’s year to go forward in
Europe after winning the pro 12 last seasons but what a flop for them. Northampton
looks like a tricky opponent in the knockout stages.
TOULON 16-11 WASPS
WASPS JUST COULD NOT
DO IT
Wasps came agonisingly close to a historic win away to
Toulon in the European Champions Cup, only for the hosts' Drew Mitchell to
cross for a try in the final play of the match.
Guy Thompson had surged over on 70 minutes to give Wasps a
11-8 lead, but their line was breached in injury time.
Toulon just held the record of not losing at home in the
last minute and by doing so with a win have secured their spot in the quarters
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