Brive steal Cardiff's thunder
MATCH REPORT: Cardiff Rugby missed the chance to top Challenge Cup Pool A as they were beaten 37-24 at Brive on Saturday.
The Welsh region had secured a place in the Round of 16 prior to kick off, but a bonus-point victory would have seen them overhaul RC Toulon and Glasgow Warriors.
On the other hand, Brive’s victory sees them a place in the Round of 16 at the very last opportunity.
The TOP 14 outfit, who had lost all three of their previous matches in the competition, turned on the style at Stadium de Brive.
Tries from Motu Matuu, Mathis Ferte and Kevin Fabien, plus a conversion from Nicolas Sanchez, sent them in 17-3 up at the break, with Cardiff mustering only a Rhys Priestland penalty in response.
And the scoring continued thick and fast in the second half, Arthur Bonneval bagging a try brace for the hosts, with Sanchez and Enzo Herve adding the extras.
Cardiff closed the gap with tries from James Botham, Jason Harries and Priestland – who also converted all three, but they were unable to reel in Brive.
Cardiff will console themselves with the knowledge that they will have a home tie in the Round of 16.
The scorers:
For Brive
Tries: Matu’u, Ferte, Fabien, Bonneval, Douglas
Cons: Sanchez, Herve (2)
Pens: Sanchez, Herve
For Cardiff:
Try: Botham, Priestland, Harries
Con: Priestland (3)
Pens: Priestland
Yellow card: Liam Williams (Cardiff, 52’)
Brive: 15 Mathis Ferté, 14 Kevin Fabien, 13 Seta Tuicuvu, 12 Setareki Bituniyata, 11 Arthur Bonneval, 10 Nicolas Sanchez, 9 Enzo Sanga, 8 Retief Marais, 7 Said Hireche (captain), 6 Tevita Ratuva, 5 Lucas Paulos Adler, 4 Julien Delannoy, 3 Francisco Coria Marchetti, 2 Motu Matu’u, 1 Wesley Tapueluelu.
Replacements: 16 Nathan Fraissenon, 17 Daniel Brennan, 18 Tietie Tuimauga, 19 Oskar Konstantin Rixen, 20 Sacha Gue, 21 Léo Carbonneau, 22 Enzo Herve, 23 Wesley Douglas.
Cardiff: 15 Liam Williams, 14 Aled Summerhill, 13 Mason Grady, 12 Ben Thomas, 11 Jason Harries, 10 Rhys Priestland, 9 Tomos Williams (captain), 8 James Ratti, 7 Ellis Jenkins, 6 James Botham, 5 Teddy Williams, 4 Lopeti Timani, 3 Kieron Assiratti, 2 Kirby Myhill, 1 Rhys Carre.
Replacements: 16 Efan Daniel, 17 Brad Thyer, 18 Will Davies-King, 19 Rory Thornton, 20 Seb Davies, 21 Shane Lewis-Hughes, 22 Lloyd Williams, 23 Jarrod Evans.
Referee: Anthony Woodthorpe (England)
Assistant Referees: George Selwood (England), James Clarke (England)
TMO: David Rose (England)
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