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**dudeabides** · 01-24-2010, 02:36 PM

Gloucester v. Newport:

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Gloucester bagged a 32-23 bonus point victory over Dragons to finish their Heineken Cup campaign on a high and secure a place in the European Challenge Cup quarter-finals.

Flanker Akapusi Qera was the star for the Premiership side with a hat-trick of tries but the all-important bonus point arrived courtesy of a 74th-minute penalty try. The victory saw Gloucester finish as runners-up in Pool Two, progressing into the second-tier Challenge Cup, where they will be joined by five group winners of that competition and two other Heineken clubs.

Nicky Robinson chipped in with three conversions and two penalties as Gloucester produced a powerful second-half performance. The Dragons, six points clear at the break, managed a Rhodri Gomer-Davies try and a late Ashley Smith touchdown, plus two penalties, a drop-goal and conversion from James Arlidge, and one Jason Tovey conversion. But Gloucester were good value for the win, condemning the Dragons to a sixth successive defeat in all competitions.

Gloucester were forced into a late change when their former England wing Lesley Vainikolo withdrew because of a stomach complaint, so Tom Voyce replaced him in a side seeking its first Heineken away win this season. And the Dragons, whose European hopes ended through home and away defeats against Biarritz before Christmas, concluded their campaign minus injured influential forwards Luke Charteris and Joe Bearman.

Robinson and Arlidge exchanged penalties during a scrappy opening quarter before Gloucester burst into life through a well-crafted try. Robinson was heavily involved, linking well with creative centre Eliota Fuimaono-Sapolu before delivering a scoring pass to the supporting Qera. Gloucester led 10-3 after Robinson added the extras, yet any prospect of the visitors extending their advantage was dashed through a combination of poor discipline and weak defence.

Lock Dave Attwood, recently selected for the England Saxons squad, was sin-binned by French referee Christophe Berdos for illegally hampering Dragons possession, and a second Arlidge penalty narrowed the gap. Then with Attwood still off and Gloucester temporarily reduced to 14 players, the Dragons struck in sparkling fashion. Arlidge made the most of quality lineout possession, finding Gomer-Davies in space, and he finished majestically by rounding a hapless Voyce with ease. Arlidge's conversion made it 13-10, before another Voyce blunder gifted the Dragons another score on the stroke of half-time.

Voyce had switched to fullback instead of an injured Olly Morgan, yet a terribly-sliced defensive clearance piled pressure on Gloucester and Arlidge made them pay through an effortless drop-goal. It left the visitors having to manufacture three second-half tries and fight back from six points adrift in their quest for Challenge Cup qualification. But they started the second period promisingly, breaching the Dragons' defence twice in four minutes.

A forward pass meant substitute wing Charlie Sharples' 42nd-minute effort was ruled out, yet Gloucester retained their concentration as Qera touched down following an Attwood catch and drive from a lineout. Gloucester had increased the tempo, sacrificing kickable penalties in pursuit of tries, and the Dragons struggled to stay with them.

The home side's cause was hardly helped when replacement prop Ben Castle collected a yellow card for a technical infringement, which only served to increase Gloucester's level of optimism that they could fashion a bonus point win. The Dragons found life increasingly difficult in the scrums, and a Robinson penalty nudged Gloucester 18-16 ahead entering the final quarter. And a third try for Qera soon followed, this time the result of a clever lineout move that resulted in substitute hooker Olivier Azam charging upfield and sending the ever-present Fijian over.

Robinson slotted the wide-angled conversion, and then it was all hands to the pump for an ailing Dragons outfit. But they were powerless to prevent the crucial fourth Gloucester touchdown arriving with 10 minutes left.

The Dragons could not halt a rampant Gloucester scrum, and referee Berdos awarded Gloucester a penalty try when home flanker Dan Lydiate kicked the ball away. Robinson's conversion meant Gloucester were home and dry, 32-16 clear and able to reflect on a case of mission accomplished, even though Smith meant the Dragons had the last word.

Biarritz v. Glasgow:

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Biarritz booked a home draw in the Heineken Cup quarter-finals with a 41-20 victory over Glasgow at Parc des Sport Aguilera.

Tries from Eddie Coetzee, Takudzwa Ngwenya, Ilikena Bolakoro and a penalty try saw the Top 14 side see off a determined Glasgow side who led by nine points at one stage but were unable to withstand a fierce comeback from the hosts. Victory guranteed Biarritz a place amongst the top four seeds in the last eight while Glasgow had the consolation of notching one of the tries of the season with scrum-half Chris Cusiter adding the finishing touches to a length of the field move.

Already assured of a quarter-final berth, the French side were seeking a return to winning ways having capitulated at the hands of Gloucester last weekend and they opened the scoring with a penalty from fly-half Valentin Courrent. But back came Glasgow with an opportunistic kick through from scrum-half Chris Cuister finding winger Thom Evans who collected the ball in his stride before sliding over for the opening try of the game with Parks adding the extras.

The Scottish side continued to frustrate the hosts and when Biarritz flanker Magnus Lund was caught on the wrong side at a ruck, Parks was able to stretch his side's lead. The Evans brothers then combined well down the shortside with Cusiter doing well to keep the ball alive before Biarritz lock Jerome Thion deliberately swatted the ball down in a bid to snuff out the danger. He was duly penalised and Parks stepped forward to hammer home his side's advantage.

Glasgow's Alastair Kellock was the next to feel the wrath of referee Dave Pearson's whistle and Courrent penalised the visitors by slotting his second penalty to reduce the arrears. A sense of urgency brought futher reward for Biarritz with their pack causing problems for Glasgow at a lineout that resulted in another penalty. But this time Courret's effort slipped wide of the posts.

Biarritz were not deterred and continued to exert the greater pressure and another penalty allowed Courrent to kick to the corner for another lineout. The catch and drive followed with Glasgow penalised again but the advantage allowed the Biarritz pack to re-group and drive loose-head prop Eddie Coetzee over for a try in the corner. Courrent failed to pull his side level when he pushed his conversion attempt just wide of the posts.

Glasgow reasserted themselves after the break and a strong run from Kellock drew a penalty from Biarritz but Parks was unable to slot the kick from out wide. That let off appeared to spark the hosts into life once more but they were stunned by a tremendous counter attack from Glasgow.

Some quick thinking from fullback Bernard Stortoni sparked the move after the Argentinian had claimed the ball deep inside his own 22. An initial injection of pace split the Biarritz defence and the ball was then worked through several pairs of hands before Cusiter popped up to take the scoring pass. Parks' simple conversion made it the maximum and took the visitors into a commanding nine point lead.

Biarritz looked for an immediate response and an offside infringement allowed Courrent to add to his personal tally and Glasgow's indiscipline cost them again soon after with Dan Turner penalised for going off his feet - allowing Courrent to kick his fourth penalty. He had a chance to slot his fifth just two minutes later after centre Graeme Morrison was penalised but this time the Biarritz No.10 failed to capitalise.

He redeemed himself just past the hour mark when a strong run from N.8 Imanol Harinordoquy forced another error from the Scots and his kick brought Biarritz back on level terms.

And they soon had the lead with Ngwenya stepping out of a Hefin O'Hare tackle before powering away down the touchline for a great try. Courrent's conversion put the hosts in control and firmly back on track for a home draw in the last eight.

Biarritz powered forward again with another strong surge from the forwards taking them over the Glasgow line but the score was ruled out by the Television Match Official. The resulting scrum gave them another chance to underline their superiority up front and the pressure told with Pearson awarding a penalty try.

The game was won but the home side were not finished yet with a penalty giving them another attacking platform from where a pick and go from Harinordoquy set up Bolakoro for the bonus point try. Courrent set the seal on the win with the conversion to set up a likely clash with Ospreys when the competition resumes later this year.

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