Biarritz eventually storm to success
They were made to work for it but eventually, with a strong second half performance, Biarritz stormed to a 41-20 win over Glasgow in their Heineken Cup, Pool Two, clash on Sunday – securing themselves a home quarterfinal spot.
A tight match right up until the final quarter, Glasgow led 20-11 ten minutes into the second period.
It was not meant to be though. Biarritz, as they have already shown in Europe this season, finished strongly and claimed the bonus point win they so desperately wanted.
The home side were the first side to put some points on the board, through flyhalf Vincent Courrent, but it was Thom Evans who really bought the game to life. The Scottish flyer dotted down for his sides opening try ten minutes into the game.
Points machine Parks then set about increasing his sides lead. Two penalties, after 23 and 25 minutes, helped the Warriors to a 13-3 lead before, around the 30 minutes mark, Courrent reeled it back by three points with his second successful penalty.
Three minutes from half time prop forward Eduard Coetzee turned try-scorer for the Pool topping side – ensuring that the Top 14 side went into the break just two points adrift.
Scotland international Chris Cusiter grabbed the Warriors’ second try nine minutes after the restart, giving Sean Lineen’s men a handy 20-11 lead with half an hour left to play.
To their credit though Biarritz then found another gear – scoring 30 unanswered points thanks to some sustained pressure.
Courrent slotted three penalties in a ten minute spell to level the scores before, with 64 minutes on the clock, American speedster Takudzwa Ngwenya gave his side the lead for the first time since the tenth minute of the game.
The Warriors had done well to put the pressure on Biarrtiz at the Parc des Sports Aguilera but ultimately the power of the French side came to the fore.
While their domestic form is somewhat erratic, in Europe they have been very impressive.
Showing their power, the home side forced a penalty try ten minutes from time and then capped their great comeback win off with a try for left wing Ilikena Bolakoro in the final minutes.
The win will now mean that Biarrtiz are assured of a home quarterfinal in the Heineken Cup.
The Scorers
For Biarritz
Try: Coetzee, Ngwenya, Penalty, Bolakoro
Pen: Courrent 5
Cons: Courrent 3
For Glasgow
Tries: Evans, Cusiter
Pen: Parks 2
Cons: Parks 2
The teams:
Biarritz: 15 Paul Couet-Lannes, 14 Takudzwa Ngwenya, 13 Arnaud Mignardi, 12 Laurent Tranier, 11 Ilikena Bolakoro, 10 Valentin Courrent, 9 Yann Lesgourgues, 8 Imanol Harinordoquy, 7 Trevor Hall, 6 Magnus Lund, 5 Pelu Taele, 4 Jérôme Thion, 3 Mosese Moala, 2 Benoit August, 1 Eduard Coetzee.
Replacements:16 Romain Terrain, 17 Rémy Hugues, 18 Campbell Johnstone, 19 Manuel Carizza, 20 Fabien Alexandre, 21 Karmichael Hunt, 22 Ayoola Erinle, 23 Iain Balshaw.
Glasgow: 15 Bernardo Stortoni, 14 Rob Dewey, 13 Max Evans, 12 Graeme Morrison, 11 Thom Evans, 10 Dan Parks, 9 Chris Cusiter, 8 Johnnie Beattie, 7 John Barclay, 6 Kelly Brown, 5 Alastair Kellock (captain), 4 Richie Gray, 3 Moray Low, 2 Dougie Hall, 1 Jon Welsh.
Replacements: 16 Thomson, 17 Tkachuk, 18 Ed Kalman, 19 Devon Turner, 20, John Eddie, 21 Marc McMillian, 22 Ruarith Jackson, 23 O’Hare
Venue: Parc des Sports Aguilera
