Clermont outplay Black Lion in Tbilisi

CHALLENGE CUP REPORT: ASM Clermont Auvergne secured home advantage in the Round of 16 of the Challenge Cup with a bonus-point win over Black Lion.

The Top 14 club’s 36-3 win ended the Georgian club’s first-ever EPCR Challenge Cup campaign.

Wing Bautista Delguy scored a brace, with fullback Alex Newsome and centres Léon Darricarrere and George Moala all went over. Flyhalf Anthony Belleau added four conversions and a penalty.

Luka Matkava got Black Lion’s only points, a penalty, in what was a disappointing final EPCR Challenge Cup game for the hosts.

The scorers:

For Black Lion:
Pen: Matkava

For Clermont:
Tries: Delguy 2, Newsome, Darricarrere, Moala
Cons: Belleau 4
Pen: Belleau

Teams:

Black Lion: 15 Miriani Modebadze, 14 Akaki Tabutsadze, 13 Giorgi Kveseladze, 12 Merab Sharikadze (captain), 11 Sandro Todua, 10 Luka Matkava, 9 Giorgi Margalitadze, 8 Ilia Spanderashvili, 7 Sandro Mamamtavrishvili, 6 Luka Ivanishvili, 5 Mikheil Babunashvili, 4 Demuri Epremidze, 3 Giorgi Chkhartishvili, 2 Tengiz Zamtaradze, 1 Dato Abdushelishvili.
Replacements: 16 Irakli Kvatadze, 17 Nika Khatiashvili, 18 Bachuki Tchumbadze, 19 Nodar Cheishvili, 20 Giorgi Kervalishvili, 21 Alexander Jighauri, 22 Tornike Kakhoidze, 23 Luka Tsirekidze.

Clermont: 15 Alex Newsome, 14 Bautista Delguy, 13 Léon Darricarrere, 12 George Moala, 11 Joris Jurand, 10 Anthony Belleau, 9 Baptiste Jauneau, 8 Pita-Gus Sowakula, 7 Marcos Kremer, 6 Lucas Dessaigne, 5 Tomas Lavanini, 4 Thibault Lanen, 3 Cristian Ojovan, 2 Folau Fainga’a, 1 Etienne Falgoux (captain).
Replacements: 16 Robin Couly, 17 Giorgi Beria, 18 Rabah Slimani, 19 Rob Simmons, 20 Killian Tixeront, 21 Sebastien Bezy, 22 Theo Giral, 23 Pierre Fouyssac.

Referee: Gianluca Gnecchi (Italy)
Assistant referees: Andrei Gheorghe (Romania), Franco Rosella (Italy)
TMO: Stefano Roscini (Italy)

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