Dweba scores crucial try as 14-man Bordeaux upsets Bears
EUROPEAN CUP MATCH REPORT: Replacement hooker Joseph Dweba scored a crucial try 10 minutes from time as Bordeaux-Begles recorded a 36-17 win over Bristol Bears to advance to the quarterfinals.
The result means Bordeaux-Begles will face Racing 92 in an all-French affair at the Stade Chaban-Delmas next weekend.
Dweba, a former Cheetahs hooker who is high on the Stormers’ wish list, came on in the 55th minute and scored in the 70th – which turned out to be the decisive score in the game.
With Bordeaux down a man and leading just 22-17, a turnover deep inside the home team’s half saw the French team race upfield and a hard-running Dweba coming on a hard angle to go over and put his team two scores clear.
Bordeaux was later reduced to 13 men – with a second questionable yellow card – but held their nerve and finished in style to become the fifth French club to emerge victorious from the weekend’s Round of 16 action.
* Did you miss any of the action? To recap all the drama, CLICK HERE!
In Bordeaux, the English Premiership leaders started strongly when wing Henry Purdy touched down after seven minutes.
Flyhalf Callum Sheedy missed the conversion. Although he kicked three penalties before half-time his counterpart, France international Matthieu Jalibert, had put the home team ahead by half-time with five penalties.
Jalibert then burrowed over the line from close range to add a try six minutes into the second half.
Purdy came close to a quick reply, but Romain Buros stripped the ball as the Bristol wing went to touch down.
Sheedy closed the gap with a penalty, but Bordeaux-Begles locked up the victory in the last 10 minutes – even though replacement Kane Douglas (68th minute) and lock Cyril Cazeaux (77th minute) were shown yellow cards.
The South African replacement hooker, Dweba, touched down with 10 minutes left and Nans Ducuing ran back an interception for a final try with a minute left.
The scorers
For Bordeaux-Begles
Tries: Jalibert, Dweba, Du
Cons: Jalibert, Lucu 2
Pens: Jalibert 5
For Bristol Bears
Try: Purdy
Pens: Sheedy 4
Yellow cards: Kane Douglas (Bordeaux-Begles, 68 – repeated infringement, diving off his feet at tackle), Cyril Cazeaux (Bordeaux-Begles, 78 – foul play, charged with a shoulder into a ruck)
Teams
Bordeaux-Begles: 15 Romain Buros, 14 Yoram Moefana, 13 Pablo Uberti, 12 Rémi Lamerat, 11 Ben Lam, 10 Matthieu Jalibert, 9 Maxime Lucu, 8 Scott Higginbotham, 7 Guido Petti, 6 Cameron Woki, 5 Jandré Marais, 4 Cyril Cazeaux, 3 Vadim Cobilas, 2 Clement Maynadier, 1 Jefferson Poirot (captain).
Replacements: 16 Joseph Dweba, 17 Thierry Paiva, 18 Lekso Kaulashvili, 19 Kane Douglas, 20 Alexandre Roumat, 21 Yann Lesgourgues, 22 Ulupano Seuteni, 23 Nans Ducuing.
Bristol: 15 Charles Piutau, 14 Luke Morahan, 13 Semi Radradra, 12 Alapati Leiua, 11 Henry Purdy, 10 Callum Sheedy (captain), 9 Andy Uren, 8 Nathan Hughes, 7 Dan Thomas, 6 Chris Vui, 5 Joe Joyce, 4 Dave Attwood, 3 Kyle Sinckler, 2 Bryan Byrne, 1 Yann Thomas.
Replacements: 16 Will Capon, 17 Max Lahiff, 18 John Afoa, 19 Ed Holmes, 20 Ben Earl, 21 Harry Randall, 22 Sam Bedlow, 23 Piers O’Conor.
Referee: Mike Adamson
Assistant referee: Thomas Charabas, Luc Ramos
TMO: Neil Paterson
