EUROPEAN CHALENGE CUP
SALE 19-25 MONPELLIER
PAILLAGUE BOOT PUTS MONPELLIER IN
SEMIS
Montpellier
reached their first European Challenge Cup semi-final after inflicting a first
home defeat of the season on Sale.
Sharks began
the game as the only team in Europe yet to lose at home but that record was
ended by the Top 14 side.
Danny
Cipriani's boot edged Sale into an 11-10 half-time lead, after Paul Willemse and
Tom Brady exchanged tries.
But five
Benoit penalties in the second half took Montpellier through, despite Sam
James' late try.
A game won
by the boot so quickly by Montpellier and I think that as they go further in
the competition they will find it trickier. I don’t see them as champions however
I thought sale would put up more of a fight
GRENOBLE 33-32 CONNACHT
WISNIEKI LAST MINUTE DROP WINS MATCH
NO ONE DESERVES TO LOOSE
Connacht
lost a 19-3 lead as Grenoble won a thrilling European Challenge Cup
quarter-final in France.
Two Niyi
Adeolokun scores and a Robbie Henshaw try seemed to put Connacht in control but
Jonathan Wisniewski replied with 13 points before the break.
A Matt Healy
try left Connacht 26-16 up before Grenoble punished Denis Buckley's sin-binning
as Lucas Dupont and Mahamadou Diaby scored tries.
John Cooney
kicked Connacht ahead again but Wisniewski's late drop goal won it.
Grenoble's
victory means they will face Harlequins in the semi-finals while Connacht will
have to recover from this disappointment to regroup for the conclusion of the
Pro12, where the currently lead the table.
As Connacht
started with their verve that has been the hallmark of their season, centre
Bundee Aki's looping pass set up Adeolokun's 13th-minute try.
After
Wisniewski's penalty reply, a lightning Healy break and well-directed Shane
O'Leary cross-kick allowed Henshaw to touch down before a Kieran Marmion dart
helped set up Adeolokun's second try.
However
after slotting his second successful conversion, O'Leary's reckless cross-kick
on his own line gifted Grenoble a lifeline as fly-half Wisniewski replied.
Two more
Wisniewski penalties reduced Connacht's lead to 19-16 at the break but the
Irish province moved 13 clear by the 52nd minute after the outstanding Healy
burst through the Grenoble defence and O'Leary kicked five further points.
However,
Buckley's sin-binning on the hour mark, after he illegally attempted to prevent
a Grenoble try, was a key moment.
Grenoble,
currently eighth in the Top 14 table, scored two tries during Buckley's absence
with Dupont and Diaby touching down as Irishman Chris Farrell provided a
brilliant off-load in the build-up to the second score.
Wisniewski's
two conversions helped Grenoble lead for the first time with 10 minutes left
and while replacement John Cooney's penalty put Connacht ahead again on 73, the
home number 10's drop goal two minutes later clinched victory.
What a match
in a game that neither side deserve to loos especially with how well Connacht has
done this season. I think that this French team are better than there French top
14 spot is showing and if they can get things right maybe both teams can reach
the quarter finals.
HARLIQUINS 38-30 IRISH
CARE HAT TRICK MEANS IRISH MISSED A
TRICK
Harlequins
ran in five tries as they came from behind to beat London Irish in the European
Challenge Cup quarter-final on home soil at The Stoop.
England
scrum-half Danny Care claimed a hat-trick, while loose forward Luke Wallace
crossed twice as Quins booked a home semi-final against Grenoble.
But Quins
were given a real scare, not reclaiming the lead until late on.
Irish ran in
three tries through winger Fergus Mulchrone, scrum-half Brendan McKibbin and
centre Sean Maitland.
And the
visitors put in a spirited display that bodes well for next weekend's 11th v
12th relegation battle at Newcastle.
This was a
match that if I was watching it as a quins fan I would worry as London Irish
are not the best team in the league but any win can change a season in an
instant and I think quins might be a potential Challenge cup champion.
GLOSTER 21-23 DRAGONS
DAVIES TRY PUTS DRAGONS IN SEMIS
Newport Gwent Dragons snatched a shock win at Gloucester to
reach the semi-finals of the European Challenge Cup.
Scrum-half Charlie Davies grabbed a close-range try after 76
minutes to put the holders out and end their 15-game unbeaten European run.
Dragons fly-half Dorian Jones kicked five penalties and Carl
Meyer one in a close-fought game.
England back-rower Ben Morgan and Steve McColl scored home
tries while Greig Laidlaw kicked 11 points.
Dragons are the only pro 12 team that have had a successful run
in Europe and that is a disappointment that must be changed going forward as England
and France rugby get more and more money will this be the vision of the future
.
Semi final draw
Grenoble v haliquins monpellier v sale
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