Sunday Wrap-Up
- 3108
Cracking day of rugby today with 5 games across 3 different competitions. We take a look at the action from the Champions Cup, Aviva Premiership and the PRO 12.
Champions Cup
First game of the day saw Oyonnax take on Ulster in an incredible game which saw Ulster win 24-23. Definitely to a game of two halves as Oyonnax fall short of their first ever Champion Cup victory, the home side started the game with huge intensity putting massive pressure on Ulster in all areas of the game. Two tries and 5 kicks from the trusty boot of Robinson saw Oyonnax go in at the break 23 points ahead of a very poor Ulster side. Les Kiss rung in the changes at half time which turned the game on its head and Ulster scored three quality tries through Scholes, Gilroy and McCall put Ulster 2 points behind with 10 minutes to go. Oyonnax did their best to dig in but from 52 metres out Paddy Jackson won Ulster the game with a massive penalty with just a minute to go. Ulster's European campaign goes on.
Bath traveled to Toulon today and played out an incredibly tight game which saw the current European champions win 12-9. A Frederic Michalak penalty in the dying moments was all that could separate the two sides, despite the fact that for the majority of the second half, Bath were camped in the Toulon 22. Toulon's class shone through as real aggression and determination was shown by the home side to repeatedly thwart the Bath attack. George Ford put in a much improved performance for Bath and looked back to his best ahead of the 6 Nations. Toulon now are right back in the chase for qualification, while Bath will have to win all of their remaining games to have any chance of qualification.
Aviva Premiership
The bottom 2 met in the early kick off in the Premiership with London Irish coming out 20-15 victors over Newcastle Falcons. After a low scoring first half the Exiles held a six point lead at the break and an explosive start to the second half saw them score two tries in quick succession. The Falcons came back and looked like causing an upset but a huge defensive shift from the Exiles at the death prevented the Falcons attack. A crucial victory for London Irish and a losing bonus point for The Falcons. London Irish now move off the bottom into 11th on 8 points in just their 2nd win of the season, while the Falcons now sit bottom of the league on 7 points.
Wasps got back to winning ways at home to Worcester Warriors but it wasn't all that easy for the home side. With 10 minutes to go Warriors looked on course for a big win on the road as they led 22-13 but tries from Thompson, Halai and Tagicakibau for Wasps saved the home sides blushes and gave them the win by a flattering scoreline of 32-22. A bonus point for Wasps sees them move up to the top 6, while the Warriors undeservedly leave with nothing and sit in 10th.
PRO 12
In the only PRO 12 game of the day, Scarlets moved back to the top of the table with a late 21-19 win over Connacht. A great contest with very little between the sides as both teams gave it their all but were also sloppy and ill-disciplined at times. Connacht ultimately paying the price as they received a yellow card to Ronan Loughney for dangerous play at the breakdown and lost the lead right at the death as Steve Shingler stepped up and slotted over the penalty. Connacht have now lost 4 on the spin in the league and drop down to 4th.
Dan Hayes