ACC, r5: Toulon still top despite 28-9 defeat at Saracens;
Bourgoin ease past Bucuresti
15 January 2010
|
Jonny Wilkinson attempts a
drop-goal against Saracens
Photo: Michael Paler |
| Thursday |
|
14/01/2010 |
|
| Bourgoin |
33 |
Bucuresti Oaks |
15 |
| Saracens |
28 |
Toulon |
9 |
| London Wasps |
50 |
Rugby Roma |
16 |
Toulon slipped to a 28-9 defeat at Saracens on
Thursday night, but they still top Pool 3 by a single point
going into the last round of matches next weekend.
A trip
to the Guinness Premiership side was always likely to prove
a tough challenge, but Toulon did at least manage to prevent
Saracens from garnering the extra attacking bonus -
something that could be crucial when the pool stages are
completed.
Amlin Challenge Cup - Pool results
and tables
Toulon
now know they will go through to the quarter-final stages if
they can get a bonus-point win at home to French rivals
Castres, while Saracens can merely hope results go their way
as they travel to Italian side Rugby Rovigo.
The key
for Toulon was to prevent Saracens scoring four tries, and
in that regard they were successful with the hosts' limited
to just one touch down - from Justin Melck - and 23 points
from the boot of fly-half Derrick Hougaard. The French
outfit replied with nine points from Jonny Wilkinson, with
the England No 10 landing an early drop-goal and two later
penalties.
"Jonny
did well. He was very good in defence. It was a difficult
situation," said Toulon coach Philippe Saint-André. "The
pitch was quite heavy and it was not a very high level game.
He had a solid performance," added the former Sale Sharks
boss.
Sarries
coach Brendan Venter knew it would be a tough assignment to
breach the Toulon defence four times, especially as the
English side had not managed it once so far this season. Now
he can only hope that Toulon slip up against Castres, but
the latter have no real interest left in this competition
and will be preserving their squad for the more important
Top 14 battles ahead as they seek to maintain their current
lofty position - they are second.
Bourgoin, meanwhile, beat Bucuresti
Oaks 33-15 to move top of Pool 1 and set up a
qualification showdown with Leeds Carnegie - who they travel
to next weekend. Thursday's win saw the French side open up
a temporary five-point gap on Leeds, with the latter
travelling to play Overmach Rugby Parma on Saturday.
Bourgoin, who were runners up in this competition last
season, made sure of the bonus point against Bucuresti by
running in five tries, including three in a dominant first
half which saw them open up a 21-0 lead.
Despite
being outscored 15-12 after the break they are now in a
strong position to make the knockout stages following tries
from winger Albert Vulivuli, skipper Wessel Jooste a double
from hooker Jean-Philippe Genevois and a penalty try.
Full-back Alberto Di Bernardo added four conversions, while
Bucuresti's points came courtesy of tries from full-back
Bote Botezatu and lock Valentin Ursache, with fly-half
Florin Vlaicu adding a penalty and a conversion.
In the
night's other game Pool 4 leaders London Wasps
hammered Rugby Roma 50-16 to seal their quarter-final
berth.
| Friday 15/01/10 |
|
|
|
| Castres v
Rugby Rovigo |
Stade Pierre
Antoine |
Pool 3 |
19.00 |
| Connacht Rugby v
Montpellier |
The Sports Ground |
Pool 2 |
19.00 |
| SCA Albi v
Newcastle Falcons |
La Maison des
Sports |
Pool 5 |
20.00 |
| Saturday 16/01/10 |
|
|
|
| Rugby Parma v
Leeds Carnegie |
Stadio XXV Aprile |
Pool 1 |
14.30 |
| Petrarca Padova v
Montauban |
Stadio Plebiscito |
Pool 5 |
15.00 |
| Worcester Warriors
v Olympus Madrid |
Sixways Stadium |
Pool 2 |
15.00 |
| Bayonne v
Racing-Métro 92 |
Stade Jean Dauger |
Pool 4 |
20.45 |
|
