Tuesday 20 January 2015

Britannia Could Be Ruling Europe Soon

Champions Cup Round 5
We’re getting to the business end of the group stages of the Champions Cup and teams are fighting it out to who will qualify for the quarter – finals and we could have a decent number of English teams progressing judging by the results of round five.

Pool One
Saracens 33 – 10 Munster
Saracens dominated from beginning to end as this victory keeps the hopes of qualifying into the knockout stages alive as they travel to Clermont for a do – or – die battle.

We also got to see the best of Billy Vunipola and this was the form which saw picked for England eight games in a row as the number eight showed his skills in both attack and defence in time for England selection for the Six Nations.

Chris Ashton touch down twice and was joined by Chris Wyles plus 18 points from Owen Farrell blew Munster away. The Irish province could only reply with a Denis Hurley score and five points off the boot of Ian Keatley.

Scorers
Saracens
Tries: Wyles, Ashton (2)
Conversions: Farrell (3)
Penalties: Farrell (4)

Munster
Try: Hurley
Conversion: Keatley
Penalty: Keatley

Sale 13 – 22 Clermont
Sale are still without a win in pool one after slipping to a home defeat to Clermont.

The French side were leading 6 – 3 at the break with Camille Lopez kicking two penalties with Danny Cipriani replying with a penalty of his own.

The hosts did take the lead with a converted penalty try after the interval. Lopez restored the lead for the visitors with three penalties while Cipriani scored another penalty for the Sharks. Fritz Lee try and a conversion and penalty from Lopez made sure there wasn’t a big upset on the cards.

Scorers
Sale
Try: Penalty
Conversion: Cipriani
Penalties: Cipriani (2)

Clermont
Try: Lee
Conversion: Lopez
Penalties: Lopez (5)

Pool Two
Harlequins 3 – 23 Wasps
Wasps gave hope of progressing to the knockout stages while their fellow Aviva Premiership outfit Harlequins hopes have ended with this defeat.

Christian Wade and Joe Simpson, both ran in clear to score in the opening 20 minutes putting the visitors firmly ahead. After the interval Andy Goode scored a penalty to extend Wasps lead before Elliot Daly kicked a monster 56 metre penalty to make sure they left the Stoop with the victory.

While Quins could only respond with Ben Botica’s penalty. Wasps now know beating Leinster at home will send them through to the quarter – finals.

Scorers
Harlequins
Penalty: Botica

Wasps
Tries: Wade, Simpson
Conversions: Goode (2)
Penalties: Goode (2), Daly

Pool Three
Leicester Tigers 40 – 23 Scarlets
After previously losing to Scarlets in round two which almost ended the Tigers Champions Cup hopes, but now have a European lifeline with a bonus victory over the Welsh region.

Miles Benjamin and Jordan Crane crossed over early under the Friday night lights at Welford Road for the hosts while Rhys Priestland penalties and a Rob Evans try closed the gap.

Adam Thompstone and Sam Harrison all crossed the whitewash with Tom Youngs scoring twice after the break as Harry Robinson also scored a double for Scarlets.

Leicester now need to go to Ulster and should the Tigers win at the Kingspan stadium, then they have a chance to progress to the quarter – finals.

Scorers
Leicester Tigers
Tries: Benjamin, Crane, Thompstone, Youngs (2), Harrison
Conversions: Burns (4), Williams

Scarlets
Tries: Evans, Robinson (2)
Conversion: Shingler
Penalties: Priestland (2)

Pool Four
Toulouse 18 – 35 Bath

Pool Five
Ospreys 9 – 20 Northampton Saints
Northampton Saints travelled to Ospreys for the final game of the weekend and left the Liberty Stadium with a victory as tries from Calum Clark and George North were enough to see off the Welsh region with Dan Biggar only able to score three penalties.

The Aviva Premiership champions will now host Racing Metro at Franklins Gardens with the winner securing a home quarter – final.

Scorers
Ospreys
Penalties: Biggar (3)

Northampton Saints
Tries: Clark, North
Conversions: Myler (2)
Penalties: Myler (2)

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