Burns boots Gloucester into play-offs

Gloucester booked their place in the quarterfinals of the European Challenge Cup with a last-gasp win at Bordeaux-Begles on Friday night.

The former champions looked like they would have to wait another week to confirm their spot in the last eight as the French outfit led until the dying stages but Freddie

Burns struck twice in the final five minutes to secure a 31-26 success.

Burns finished with 26 points courtesy of eight penalties and a conversion but bottom side Bordeaux outscored their English opponents by two tries to one at the Stade Andre Moga.

Burns' first penalty after four minutes was sandwiched by a brace from Bordeaux fullback Lachie Munro before right wing Rafael Carballo's converted try handed the hosts a handsome 13-3 lead after 18 minutes.

But Gloucester hit back in fine fashion with 16 points in as many minutes towards the end of the half as they showed the class that had seen them win all four of their opening tournament fixtures.

Burns slotted two more penalties on 20 and 24 minutes before hooker Darren Dawiduik crossed for the visitors' first try on the half hour.

The extra points from Burns were followed by a fourth successful penalty that pushed Gloucester 19-13 ahead with four minutes of the half remaining.

At that stage, Gloucester boss Nigel Davies would have hoped to see his side push on towards a comfortable win but Bordeaux-Begles had other ideas and responded in style with their second try moments before the half-time whistle.

This time it was Samoan prop Tamato Leupolu who powered over, with Munro's conversion giving his side a one-point lead at the break.

The second-half scoring was dominated by the boot as Munro and Burns twice exchanged penalties in the first 22 minutes. Munro struck on 45 and 57 minutes, with Burns responding in kind on 54 and 62.

Both teams lost players to the sin bin in a fiercely contested encounter but yellow cards for Gloucester hooker Huia Edmonds after 56 minutes and Bordeaux lock Andrew Chauveau seven minutes later failed to result in the game's fourth try.

With the home side 26-25 ahead, flyhalf Camille Lopez failed with a drop goal that would have left Gloucester chasing a try and that miss proved costly as Burns struck twice more, the first with five minutes remaining and the second in the final few seconds.

The scorers:

For Bordeaux-Begles:

Tries: Carballo, Leupolu

Cons: Munro 2

Pens: Munro 4

For Gloucester:

Try: Dawidiuk

Con: Burns

Pens: Burns 8

Yellow cards: Huia Edmonds (Gloucester, 56), Andrew Chauveau (Bordeaux-Begles, 63)

Teams:

Bordeaux-Begles: 15 Lachie Munro, 14 Rafael Carballo, 13 Charles Brousse, 12 Michel Denetre, 11 Thierry Brana, 10 Camille Lopez, 9 Julien Seron, 8 Damien Larrieu, 7 Rohan Kitshoff, 6 Gauthier Gibouin, 5 François Tisseau, 4 Andrew Chauveau, 3 Tamato Leupolu, 2 Hikairo Forbes, 1 Jefferson Poirot.

Replacements: 16 Fabien Rofes, 17 Franck Labbe, 18 Nicolas Descamps, 19 Carolis Navickas, 20 Hugh Chalmers, 21 Félix Le Bourhis, 22 Baptiste Serin, 23 Louis Madaule.

Gloucester: 15 Rob Cook, 14 Charlie Sharples, 13 Henry Trinder, 12 Tim Molenaar, 11 Jonny May, 10 Freddie Burns, 9 Dan Robson, 8 Ben Morgan, 7 Akapusi Qera, 6 Sione Kalamafoni, 5 Will James, 4 Jim Hamilton (captain), 3 Dario Chistolini, 2 Darren Dawidiuk, 1 Nick Wood.

Replacements: 16 Huia Edmonds, 17 Dan Murphy, 18 Shaun Knight, 19 Peter Buxton, 20 Gareth Evans, 21 Dave Lewis, 22 Mike Tindall, 23 Martyn Thomas.

Referee: Andrew McMenemy (Scotland)

Assistant referees: Peter Allan (Scotland), Bob Nevins (Scotland)