Saracens scalp Narbonne

All the results for Round Five of the European Challenge Cup

Saracens wing Tomas De Vedia scored four tries as the English side put Narbonne to the sword by running out 47-20 victors in their European Challenge Cup clash on Sunday.

The win takes Alan Gaffney’s men to the top of Pool Two and a guaranteed spot in the final eight, but they will be looking for a bonus-point victory at Glasgow next Friday night to ensure a home quarter-final.

Worcester were made to pay for a shocking start as Clermont Auvergne scored a crucial European Challenge Cup Pool Five win at Sixways.

Clermont’s 35-22 win guarantees them top spot, with Worcester needing a big win at Viadana next Saturday to have a chance of sneaking into the quarter-finals as one of the three best runners-up.

The Warriors were awful in the opening quarter, conceding 20 points in as many minutes before back-rower Drew Hickey livened up the Sixways crowd with a good try.

The game exploded minutes before the half-time whistle, with Clermont forwards Thibaut Privat and Michel Dieude both shown yellow cards for professional fouls.

The pressure on the six remaining forwards proved too much and Worcester were awarded a penalty try to trail only 25-17 at the break.

Clermont fly-half Brock James edged his side further ahead with his fifth goal of the afternoon, and the Warriors’ hopes of a comeback ended when skipper Pat Sanderson was sent to the bin for killing the ball.

Hooker Brice James confirmed Clermont’s bonus point in the 70th minute, before impressive Worcester replacement Gavin Quinnell rumbled over.

Glasgow are still in the quarter-final shake-up after cruising to a 47-17 bonus-point victory at Italian side GRAN Parma.

Scotland international Dan Parks helped himself to 17 points, with Australian scrum-half Sam Pinder and winger Rory Lamont bagging try doubles.

Glasgow romped to a 42-3 lead after only 50 minutes, but went off the boil to give the Italian fans the chance to cheer converted tries to back-rower Julio Alcacer and fly-half Rima Wakarua, before Glasgow full-back Sean Marsden bagged his side’s sixth and final try.

Unbeaten Pool Two leaders Saracens host Narbonne on Sunday but will need to beat Glasgow at Hughenden next Friday night to guarantee a berth in the final eight.

On Friday, Guinness Premiership leaders Bristol were stunned in Wales as Newport Gwent Dragons roared to victory at Rodney Parade.

With the Dragons bagging four points and Bristol one from the 17-11 home win, the sides are tied on 20 points at the top of Pool One.

The Welsh side have a tricky trip to Bayonne in the final round, and Bristol’s home match against Bucuresti looks the easier task in the race to bag a home quarter-final.

The Dragons scored through United States international centre Paul Emerick and classy winger Gareth Wyatt, with Wales centre Ceri Sweeney adding eight crucial points with the boot.

Bristol were limited to two penalty goals from New Zealander David Hill in the first half, and a second-half try from winger Lee Robinson gave the visitors a bonus point that could prove the difference in the final analysis.

Pool One cellar dwellers Bayonne exacted revenge on Romanian side Bucuresti with a thrilling 38-31 win at Stade Jean Dauger.

The French club lost to the Dragons, Bucuresti and Bristol (twice) in the opening four rounds of the tournament, but secured the victory thanks to a try double from hooker Christophe Laurent.

Prolific Romanian winger Catalin Fercu grabbed a brace of his own, but six-try Bayonne deserved the points.

Bath continued their romp through the tournament with a 36-24 win at Connacht’s Sportsground stadium in Galway.

Full-back Michael Stephenson helped himself to a hat-trick of tries and Olly Barkley bagged 14 points as Bath took a stranglehold on Pool Four.

Barkley converted his own try in first-half injury time to give Bath a 19-10 lead at the break, and former England international Stephenson’s silky skills confirmed the victory against the never-say-die Irish side.

Bath moved to 21 points at the top of the pool, and need only a point against bottom-placed Montpellier at the Recreation Ground next weekend to secure a place in the cup quarter-finals.

Harlequins stayed in touch with Bath thanks to a hard-fought 37-27 win at Montpellier, but are probably playing for a best runners-up spot in their home match against Connacht in the final round next weekend.

Quins beat their French rivals 57-10 in the home match, but needed the trusty boot of fly-half Adrian Jarvis who scored 20 points to secure victory.

Prop Aston Croall scored a rare try to set Quins on their way at Stade Sabathe, and second-half efforts from Will Skinner, Jarvis and David Strettle confirmed the five points.

In a battle of the also-rans in Pool Three, Montauban beat Petrarca 19-7 on the back of tries from South Africa international Jacobus Immelman, Canada international Ryan Smith and centre Benoit Albert.

In France, Viadana beat Albi 27-17 in a battle of the Pool Five also-rans, with winger Hayden Pedersen bagging a hat-trick of tries in the space of 18 minutes.

Welsh fly-half Cerith Rees kicked regular goals to keep Albi in touch, but Pedersen scored two tries in the second quarter and added a third in the opening exchanges of the second half to put the Italian side in charge.

Replacement prop Christophe Viol scored for the home side, but the trusty boot of former Scotland fly-half Calvin Howarth kept Viadana ahead.

Newcastle kept their hopes of European glory alive with a battling 24-17 win over French side Brive at Kingston Park.

The Falcons were battered 41-12 by the Pool Three leaders earlier in the season but they emerged winners in difficult conditions.

Former Gloucester centre Terry Fanolua kept the former Heineken Cup winners in contention after they conceded a second-half penalty try, but a further score from Samoan Loki Crichton secured victory for the hosts.

Earlier in the game Petrisor Toderasc crossed for Brive before Brent Wilson and Lee Dickson put the Guinness Premiership side in control.

Results for Round Five:

Bayonne 38-31 Bucuresti
Connacht 24-36 Bath
Montauban 19-7 Petrarca
Montpellier 27-37 Harlequins
Newcastle 24-17 Brive
Dragons 17-11 Bristol
Albi 17-27 Viadana
Rugby Parma 17-47 Glasgow
Worcester 22-35 Clermont Auvergne
Saracens 47-20 Narbonne