Dragons steal Bristol fire

Win in Bayonne sends Welsh through as Pool One winners

Bristol's hopes of topping European Challenge Cup Pool One were dashed despite a comfortable home win over Bucuresti.

With the Newport-Gwent Dragons winning 29-15 away to Bayonne in France it meant the Guinness Premiership leaders still finished as one of the best runners-up to qualify for a quarter-final spot after a 33-19 win.

Tries from Craig Morgan (two), Mariano Sambucetti, Rob Higgitt and Craig Short, with Jason Strange kicking four conversions, ensured victory at the Memorial Stadium.

Bucuresti had two Florin Vlaicu penalties to show for the first half as the visitors trailed 19-6 and were 33-6 behind before a spirited fightback.

Vlaicu kicked another penalty before Catalin Nicolae touched down and Dan Dumbrava kicked a conversion and a penalty.

Kevin Morgan's two tries helped the Dragons hit back from 8-3 down at half-time in Bayonne to win 29-15.

Morgan's tries and one apiece from Aled Brew and Andrew Hall, with Ceri Sweeney's three conversions and a penalty, were good enough to complete the Dragons' fightback.

Henri-Pierre Vermis had a try, conversion and a penalty and Marc Baget also touched down but Bayonne could not do enough to halt the Dragons' march in the quarter-finals.

Glasgow reached the quarter-finals of a European tournament for the first time thanks to a 6-6 draw at home to Saracens.

They matched Saracens in the mud at Hughenden to make sure of finishing as one of the better Challenge Cup group runners-up.

Saracens earned a home quarter-final tie by keeping their unbeaten run intact to top Pool Two, despite Andy Farrell suffering from a stiff back before kick-off.

Dan Parks and Glen Jackson each kicked two penalties.