Dragons stun Stade Français, Zebre cruise past Pau

WRAP: Wyn Jones’ last-gasp try sent Dragons into the Challenge Cup quarter-finals with a 36-31 win over Stade Francais.

At the start of the last 16 clash, Angus O’Brien’s penalty put Dragons ahead, and the fullback found their opening try of the match before converting.

Brodie Coghlan doubled their advantage after grounding from a maul, with O’Brien adding the extras.

Despite Dragons’ strong start, Stade Francais fought back on the stroke of halftime when Samuel Ezeala went over twice in quick succession, with Louis Foursans-Bourdette converting both tries to close the gap on the visitors, who led 17-14 at the break.

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The hosts then went ahead for the first time in the game shortly after the restart when Yoan Tanga crossed and Foursans-Bourdette converted before successfully kicking a penalty minutes later.

Chris Coleman’s try was converted by O’Brien as Dragons drew level, but Ezeala bagged his hat-trick and Zack Henry converted to restore Stade Francais’ advantage.

An entertaining finale saw Elliot Dee ground from the maul, but O’Brien was unable to convert and missed a penalty with four minutes to play before Wyn Jones crossed in the 79th minute, with O’Brien adding the extras to send the Dragons into the final eight.

Zebre got off to the perfect start in the second minute when Bautista Stavile barged over for the opening score, followed by Jacopo Trulla’s 26th-minute try, both converted by Giacomo Da Re to notch up a 14-0 lead.

Stavile was sent to the sinbin in the 38th minute as Pau bashed away to score their opening try two minutes after the clock went into the red through Carwyn Tuipulotu.

Zebre responded in the 48th minute through replacement Juan-Manuel Pitinari, followed by a score by Stavile, who grabbed a brace in the 66th minute, both converted by Da Re.

Zebre went down to 14 players once more. Giovanni Licata was sent to the sinbin in the 70th minute before Beka Gorgadze scored for Pau moments later.

Da Re stretched the lead to 31-10 with a penalty in the 76th minute before Toshi Butlin had the final say with a late try for Pau.

Stade Français Paris 31-36 Dragons

Scorers

For Stade Français Paris:
Tries: Ezeala 3, Tanga
Cons: Foursans-Bourdette 3, Henry
Pen: Foursans-Bourdette

For the Dragons:
Tries: O’Brien, Coghlan, Coleman, Dee, Jones
Cons: O’Brien 4
Pen: O’Brien

Teams

Stade Français Paris: 15 Mathis Ibo, 14 Charles Laloi, 13 Joe Marchant, 12 Samuel Ezeala, 11 Lester Etien, 10 Louis Foursans-Bourdette, 9 Paul Abadie, 8 Yoan Tanga, 7 Ryan Chapuis (captain), 6 Juan-Martin Scelzo, 5 Setareki Turagacoke, 4 Pierre-Henri Azagoh, 3 Yanis Lux, 2 Lucas Peyresblanques, 1 Jack Iscaro
Replacements: 16 Alvaro Garcia Albo, 17 Thierry Paiva, 18 Paul Alo-Emile, 19 Pierre Huguet, 20 Romain Briatte, 21 Thibaut Motassi, 22 Tani Vili, 23 Zack Henry

Dragons RFC: 15 Angus O’Brien (captain), 14 Dai Richards, 13 Fine Inisi, 12 Aneurin Owen, 11 Rio Dyer, 10 Tinus de Beer, 9 Niall Armstrong, 8 Aaron Wainwright, 7 Thomas Young, 6 Ryan Woodman, 5 Ben Carter (captain), 4 Levi Douglas, 3 Christian Coleman, 2 Brodie Coghlan, 1 Rodrigo Martinez
Replacements: 16 Elliot Dee, 17 Wyn Jones, 18 Owain James, 19 Seb Davies, 20 Harrison Keddie, 21 Morgan Lloyd, 22 Fetuli Paea, 23 Huw Anderson

Referee: Morne Ferreira (South Africa)
Assistant referees: Griffin Colby (South Africa), Christopher Allison (South Africa)
TMO: Marius Jonker (South Africa)

Zebre 31-15 Pau

Scorers

For Zebre:
Tries: Stavile, Trulla, Pitinari, Stavile
Cons: Da Re 4

For Pau:
Tries: Tuipulotu, Gorgadze, Butlin

Yellow cards: Bautista Stavile (Zebre, 38′), Giovanni Licata (Zebre, 70′)

Teams

Zebre Parma: 15 Giovanni Montemauri, 14 Mirko Belloni, 13 Giulio Bertaccini, 12 Marco Zanon, 11 Jacopo Trulla, 10 Giacomo da Re, 9 Gonzalo Garcia, 8 Davide Odiase, 7 Bautista Stavile, 6 Alessandro Ortombina, 5 Leonardo Krumov (captain), 4 Matteo Canali, 3 Ion Neculai, 2 Tommaso di Bartolomeo, 1 Muhamed Hasa
Replacements: 16 Giovanni Quattrini, 17 Luca Franceschetto, 18 Juan-Manuel Pitinari, 19 Giacomo Ferrari, 20 Giovanni Licata, 21 Alessandro Fusco, 22 Martin Roger Farias, 23 Damiano Mazza

Section Paloise: 15 Aymeric Luc, 14 Clement Laporte, 13 Emilien Gailleton, 12 Nathan Decron, 11 Aaron Grandidier Nkanang, 10 Clément Mondinat, 9 Thibault Daubagna, 8 Carwyn Tuipulotu, 7 Loic Credoz, 6 Luke Whitelock (captain), 5 Mickael Capelli, 4 Thomas Jolmes, 3 Jon Zabala Arrieta, 2 Youri Delhommel, 1 Daniel Bibi Biziwu
Replacements: 16 Lucas Rey, 17 Lekso Kaulashvili, 18 Siate Tokolahi, 19 Remi Picquette, 20 Beka Gorgadze, 21 Thomas Souverbie, 22 Fabien Brau-Boirie, 23 Toshi Butlin.

Referee: Ben Breakspear (Wales)
Assistant referees: Craig Evans (Wales), Ben Connor (Wales)
TMO: Adam Jones (Wales)