European Challenge Cup Round-up Week 4

This week was Round 4 of the Challenge Cup and it was a carbon copy of Round 3 but with roles the roles of home and away reversed it was still a thoroughly entertaining weekend of rugby.

Pool 1

Rovigo 17 Grenoble 20

In the first of Saturday's European Challenge Cup matches Rovigo narrowly lost on home turf to Grenoble. The visitors turned round a seven point half-time deficit to eventually win the game. An interesting point about the victory is that Grenoble coach Bernard Jackson openly said in recent weeks he has his lack of interest in the Challenge Cup, but his team, which was largely second-string now have two victories in the competition, which means with two games remaining they still have a realistic chance of maybe qualifying for the knock-out stages.

London Irish 34 Cardiff Blues 23

London Irish put some tough weeks behind them with a thrilling victory over Cardiff to keep their Challenge Cup hopes alive. A brace of tries from Andy Fenby, a charged-down try from Shane Garaghty and 19 points from the boot of Tom Homer was enough to halt Irish dismal run of six straight defeats. Also with head-to-head results likely to come into play every point proved crucial as they now have the edge over the Blues after narrowly won 48-47 over two matches.

Pool 2

Bayonne 27 Connacht 29

The French side had led since the third minute but Connacht came back to snatch a late victory when Caolin Bade touched down after 77 minutes. Connacht had changed all 15 starters from last week's comprehensive victory over the same opponents in Galway.The win now sets up a Pool decider against leaders Exeter for Connacht in the next round of fixtures.

Exeter Chiefs 41 La Rochelle 17

Exeter established themselves as one of the clear favorites to win the competition with an impressive after making 13 changes to the team that beat Saracens a few weeks ago and still came out on top. The Chiefs had sealed their bonus-point by half-time thanks to scores from hooker Greg Bateman and winger Fetu'u Vainikolo, as well as a penalty try. They now are clear at the top of the group.

Pool 3

Newport Gwen Dragons 69 vs. Bucuresti 17

Newport Gwent Dragons seized back control of European Challenge Cup pool three with an 11-trydemolition of Bucharest Wolves. Tom Prydie crossed the whitewash three times for a hat-trick of tries against the Romanian side, who brawled hard for three scores of their own. The Rodney Parade region had a bonus-point in the bag before half-time thanks to tries from Nic Cudd, Ross Wardle, Hallam Amos, Jonathan Evans and Prydie. And they continued the style in the second period with another five tries to go one point clear of Newcastle Falcons, who they face in the next round of European action.

Stade Francais 31 Newcastle 24

A young falcons side give as good as they got across the channel and were unfortunate to lose but did travel back to the North East with a losing bonus point. Tries from Krisnan Inu, Paul Williams, Djibril Camara and Remi Bonfils, along with a penalty try, earned Stade a try bonus. Juan Pablo Socino, Simon Hammersley and Mark Wilson replied for Falcons, who picked up a losing bonus point. Falcons have won three and lost one in Pool Three going into their crunch match with Newport in round 5 of fixtures.

Pool 4

London Welsh 6 Edinbirgh 24

Edinburgh made it four wins out of four with a comfortable 24-6 victory over a London Welsh in the European Rugby Challenge Cup at the Kassam Stadium in Oxford.Welsh have yet to pick up a win in the Challenge Cup or Aviva Premiership this season and found themselves 9-3 down at half-time after Sam Hidalgo-Clyne kicked three penalties to Chris Elder's one to put Edinburgh ahead. Hidalgo-Clyne and Elder again traded penalties soon after the restart before Scotland wing Dougie Fife, released by Jack Cuthbert, made the significant breakthough with a try in the 56th minute for Edinburgh.Welsh misery was complete three minutes from time when Roddy Grant crossed and Greig Tonks converted.

Lyon 37 Bordeaux-begles 28

Lyon OU have survived a second-half comeback from Bordeaux Begles to secure a 37-28 win in the European Rugby Challenge Cup this evening.The hosts dominated the first half, with Romain Loursac scoring two tries before the break to leave Lyon eight points up at the break.Ole Avei burst over shortly after the restart to get the visitors back into the game, while a Thibault Lacroix effort followed just before the break.The hosts quickly responded through Thibault Regard, with the wing diving over in the corner just before full time to clinch the victory.The result gives Lyon just their second win of the competition, leaving them third in Pool Four behind Bordeaux.

Pool 5

Oyonnax 22 Brive 17

In an all-French clash, Oyonnax saw off Brive 22-17 as they chase Gloucester in Pool 5. Early tries for Roimata Hansell-Pune and Guillaume Bernad gave them a 15-10 half-time lead and a try each in the first ten minutes of the second-half completed the scoring.

Zebre 16 Gloucester 32

The Cherry and Whites maintained their perfect record in the Challenge Cup with a comfortable victory against Zebre. They now top the Pool with 19 points after the recovered from a nervous start to score four tries against the 14 man Italians, who had replacement Odiete dismissed for tackling a Gloucester player in the air. Captain Billy Twelvetrees was superb throughout in the midfield with fellow England international Jonny May also impressing throughout.