Bourgoin kept up their charge by beating Bucuresti at the Stade Pierre Rajon

European Challenge Cup - Round 5


Bourgoin vs Bucuresti

Bourgoin kept up their charge at the top of Pool 1 by beating Bucuresti 33-15 at the Stade Pierre Rajon. A brace of tries either side of half-time from hooker Jean-Philippe Genevois set the Top 14 strugglers, and last year's beaten finalists, on their way and the result was rounded off by efforts fro wing Albert Vulivuli and flanker Wessel Jooste.

Bucuresti lock Valetin Ursache and fullback Bote Botezatu scored tries just after the hour to threaten a comeback, but Bourgoin stood firm.

Wasps put one foot into the quarter-finals with Rugby Roma at Adams Park

European Challenge Cup - Round 5

Wasps vs Rugby Roma

Wasps put one foot into the quarter-finals with a 50-16 thrashing of Rugby Roma at Adams Park. The Guinness Premiership side bounced back from defeat to Leicester last weekend by running eight tries past the Italian minnows, with wing Tom Varndell's brace matched by another from Samoan flanker Dan Leo.

Varndell struck early but his effort was matched by a surprise score from Roma's centre Juan Gauthier. From there it was one-way traffic as Bob Baker, Leo, Paul Sackey and George Skivington wrapped up the bonus-point before half-time.

Varndell's second arrived just after the hour, with Leo bagging his ten minutes later. Danny Cipriani started at fly-half and slotted five conversions including Leo's score and replacement Dom Waldouck crashed over to complete the scoring in the last minute.

Newcastle Falcons win at Albi

European Challenge Cup - Round 5

Newcastle Falcons Vs Albi

Newcastle Falcons edged nearer the last eight hwith a 16-14 come-from-behind win at Albi. Fly-half Jimmy Gopperth completed the Falcons' impressive second-half comeback by converting Josh Afu's try seven minutes from time to snatch a crucial away victory at Stade Municipal. The result stretches Newcastle's lead at the top of Pool Five to seven points over Montauban, who play tomorrow, before the final group matches next week.

Newcastle know victory over Italian minnows Petrarca at Kingston Park next weekend will guarantee their place in the last eight of the Challenge Cup for the fifth year in a row. However, they were made to work hard for the victory against Albi, who occupy a lowly position in France's Top 14. Penalties from Gopperth and Albi's Blair Stewart, a last-minute replacement at fly-half before kick-off, saw the teams level 6-6 at half-time.

However a try swiftly after the break by replacement Yogane Correa handed Albi a lead they would hold onto until late on. Stewart cancelled out Gopperth's third penalty before flanker Afu finished a blistering Falcons attack to level the scores 14-14 ahead of Gopperth's conversion.

Connacht qualified for the quarter-finals of the Challenge Cup

European Challenge Cup - Round 5

Connacht qualified for the quarter-finals of the Challenge Cup for the second year in succession after beating nearest rivals Montpellier 20-10 at the Galway Sportsground. Only two points separated the teams in Pool Two before the tie but the Irish province maintained their unbeaten record thanks to second-half tries from Liam Bibo and Fionn Carr.

A brace of penalties from the boot of fly-half Ian Keatley handed Connacht a 6-3 lead at half-time. But Bibo burst through after 57 minutes before wing Carr followed nine minutes later to settle the tie. Keatley converted both before Mamuka Gorgodze touched down in the final minute for the French team. However, their failure to gain a losing bonus point meant Connacht cannot now be passed for top spot in the group. Connacht travel to Madrid next week bidding to clinch top seeding and with it a guaranteed home draw in the last eight.