Heineken Cup: Clermont Auvergne and
Perpignan sent packing on stormy Saturday
24 January
2009
One-hundred-mile-an-hour winds caused havoc throughout
south-west France on Saturday, but results on the pitch went
largely as predicted with Perpignan and Clermont both
crashing out of the Heineken Cup.
Perpignan ran in eight tries against hapless Benetton
Treviso, but their 48-16 win was rendered insignificant
after Pool 3 leaders Leicester Tigers lost to the Ospreys.
The
combined results meant the top three clubs all finished with
four wins from six, but the lack of bonus points -
Perpignan's current undoing in Top 14 - proved crucial yet
again.
Leicester finished top on 21 points, the Ospreys second on
20 and Perpignan a disappointing third on 18.
Heineken Cup tables
The
Catalans - who again played without the absent Dan Carter -
did what they had to on Saturday, but their failings had
come earlier in the campaign.
Their
tries came from Guilhem Guirado, Nicolas Durand, Farid Sid
(2), Adrien Plante, Olivier Olibeau, Christophe Manas and
Jerome Porical, but such a hollow victory left little room
for true celebration as their European dreams were cast
aside for another season.
Over in
Manchester, Clermont Auvergne squandered a 10-17
advantage to lose 26-17 to Sale Sharks in Pool 1.
The
French side had looked good for the win after first-half
tries from centre Thomas Combezou and prolific winger
Napolioni Nalaga, but Sale fought back after the break
courtesy of tries from discarded Welsh scrum-half Dwayne
Peel and number eight David Tait.
Former
All Black Luke McAlister also chipped in with 11 points as
Philippe Saint-Andre's side completed the double over their
Top 14 opponents.
Elsewhere, Stade Francais ended their Heineken Cup
campaign with a 24-19 home win against Ulster in Pool 4.
The Parisians rallied from 6-11 down shortly
after half-time thanks to four penalties from Lionel Beauxis
and tries from number eight Juan Manuel Leguizamon and
former Australian rugby league star Mark Gasnier.
Montauban, meanwhile, will try again tomorrow (Sunday)
after their home tie with reigning champions Munster was
postponed due to the violent storms. Hundreds of Irish fans
were left stranded in Biarritz after their plane was
diverted from Pau, but at least they were given an extra 24
hours to arrive following the delay. The match is now due to
take place at 14.00.
The
storm also affected Toulouse's preparations for their
crucial Pool 5 match at Bath as they were unable to fly on
Saturday due to the city's airport being closed. They now
plan to fly in to Bristol on Sunday morning.
Over in
the European Challenge Cup there was a predictable
thumping for troubled Toulon, while Bayonne squeezed to a
narrow away win against Viadana.
Toulon crashed 52-11 away to Pool 2 leaders Northampton
Saints, with the hosts running in seven tries as they
assured themselves of a home tie in the quarter-finals.
The fact
there was 'only' a 41-point margin represented something of
an improvement for Tana Umaga's outfit - having gone down
56-3 in the earlier home fixture - but the Top 14 strugglers
have now lost five games on the spin, and 13 of their last
15 as their season continues to disintegrate by the week.
Saint-Andre is expected to be named as the club's new head
coach on Monday, a belief given further substance by the
confirmation that Sale's French hooker Sebastien Bruno has
agreed to join Toulon next season.
Bayonne, meanwhile, won 24-22 away to Viadana thanks to
a last-minute try from centre Thibault Lacroix, converted by
Australian Manny Edmonds. But despite the last-gasp win
Bayonne still finished third in Pool 5.
European Challenge Cup tables
|
