Clermont Auvergne 33-26 Bristol: Bears out of European tournaments after agonising defeat
2025-01-17
Category: sports

Investec Champions Cup Pool 2Clermont Auvergne 33 (12)Tries: Newsome, Raka 2, penalty, Ceyte Cons: Belleau 2, UrdapilletaBristol 26 (0)Tries: Penalty, Dun, Heward, Marmion Cons: Byrne 2
Bristol are out of all European competitions after Clermont Auvergne snatched a dramatic 33-26 Champions Cup victory in the sixth minute of overtime.Pat Lam's side had fought back superbly to draw level in a breathtaking second half but Thomas Ceyte forced his way over to deny the visitors a hard-earned draw.Bristol collected two bonus points but finished bottom of Pool 2 - where they started the day - after only winning one of their group games.West-country rivals Bath lost 47-21 to Leinster but will play in the Challenge Cup after finishing fifth on points difference.Italian side Benetton beat La Rochelle 32-25 to move up to third in the pool while Clermont Auvergne claimed the final qualification spot.
Bears shattered after late sting in tail
Bears trailed 12-0 at half-time after Clermont tries from Australian wing Alex Newsome and Fijian powerhouse Alivereti Raka.A penalty try got Bristol back into the game - and resulted in Etienne Falgoux being sent to the sin-bin - but the formidable Raka smashed his way through three tackles to restore Clermont's two-try advantage.Lam brought on Kalaveti Ravouvou, Viliame Mata and Harry Thacker, who all impressed in last week's win over Benetton, in a bid to revive his team's hopes.James Dun touched down at the bottom of a maul and then Noah Heward went around his man in style to finish off an excellent attacking move, as the Bears levelled the match at 19-19.The momentum changed again as the Top 14 side were awarded a penalty try when Bears skipper Fitz Harding collapsed a maul.However, the Premiership side rallied themselves and Kieran Marmion dived over in the corner following a slick passing move. That secured the try-bonus point and Harry Byrne's nerveless kick from the right touchline levelled the scores at 26-26.There was one last sting in the tail as Ceyte forced his way over following sustained pressure to snatch victory and leave Bristol's players shattered after a frantic finish, although they had the consolation of a losing bonus point for finishing within seven points.
Line-ups
Clermont Auvergne: Newsome; Delguy, Belaubre, Simone, Raka; Belleau, Jauneau; Lotrian, Fainga'a, Ala'Alatoa, Simmons, Yato, Tixeront, Kremer, Lee (capt).Replacements: Falgoux, Massa, Ojovan, Ceyte, Fischer, Bezy, Urdapilleta, Tauzin.Bristol Bears: Lane; Heward, Jenkins, Van Rensburg, Bailey; Byrne, Randall; Genge, Oghre, Kloska, Dun, Owen, Luatua, Grondona, Harding (capt).Replacements: Thacker, Thomas, Lahiff, Barker, Mata, Marmion, Ravouvou, Elizalde.Referee: Sam Grove-White (Sco)