By James Corrigan
Four excellent games of rugby took place over the weekend in the semi-final stages of both the Champions Cup and the Challenge Cup.
A stage which saw exits for the last two remaining English sides as well as the only remaining Welsh team.
The teams that managed to progress likely mean two closely contested finals await.
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Champions Cup
Leinster vs RC Toulon (29 – 25)
A match-up between two equally class teams kicked off the first match of the semi-final stage in the Champions Cup.
Leinster were first to strike after working their way into the opposition 22, some slick passing split the unorganised defensive line open and allowed quick ball to Jack Conan to score the first try of the match.
Toulon cut into the deficit after successful penalty kicks through Melvyn Jaminet brought the game to within one point (7 – 6).
The home side regained control as they executed a smart set-piece move via Josh van der Flier, following a tap-and-go five metres from the opposition try line.
Despite Leinster regaining control through their try, a high tackle from prop forward Andrew Porter resulted in a yellow card, allowing the away side to get back into the game once more.
It only took Toulon one minute to take advantage of the extra player, following a maul, some fast passing and breakdown play developed an overlap which saw winger Setariki Tuicuvu score their first try of the match.
To add to Leinster’s misery – an offside during the build up to the try resulted in a second yellow card, this time to Harry Byrne reducing them down to 13.
Shortly after the second half kicked off Toulon received a yellow card of their own, hooker Teddy Baubigny was sent to the bin following a high tackle metres from his own try line.
Leinster made the most of their situation taking a quick tap and go penalty which resulted in Garry Ringrose scoring their third try of the match.
The intensity within the Leinster squad was proving to be too much for the away side as Irish international Caelan Doris powered over the line late in the second half giving his team a comfortable lead.
However, Toulon were not ready to say goodbye to their Champions Cup ambitions as they quickly responded with a try of their own.
After getting to within a metre of the try line following a driving maul, Toulon’s replacement scrum half Baptiste Serin spotted the unorganised defence around the breakdown and stretched over the whitewash to score the try.
With only five minutes left on the clock the away side closed the gap even further as Gael Drean finished off an excellent try bringing the game to within four points following the successful conversion.
Despite their late efforts a comeback was not on the cards for Toulon as Leinster secured victory 29 points to 25, claiming their spot in the Champions Cup final.
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Bordeaux-Begles vs Bath (38 – 26)
The reigning champions of this competition Bordeaux faced Bath, the reigning Challenge Cup champions.
The home side took an early lead scoring after the first minute of play through Marko Gazzotti after an overlap developed on the outside allowing Bordeaux to get the first points of the match.
Bath didn’t waste any time in finding their response as Will Muir was the beneficiary of a well placed cross field kick from Ben Spencer levelling the score after the successful conversion kick.
Despite Bath’s response, the home side developed another overlap allowing the inevitable Louis Bielle-Biarrey to score for Bordeaux.
With both teams matching each other for class Bath found yet another response through Will Muir once more.
After developing an overlap of their own the English winger was still left with work to do, but an acrobatic finish in the corner capped off an excellent try.
Bordeaux finished off what was an excellent first half of rugby with another amazing try.
Slick fast hands sliced the Bath defence wide open allowing scrum half Maxime Lucu to extend the home side’s lead before the break.
Keeping the same pattern as the first half Bath responded to the previous try 10 minutes into the second half.
Louie Hennessey passed on the option to give it to open players on the outside and instead stepped through the tackles scoring the sixth try of the match so far.
Despite Bath managing to escape conceding a try following an incomplete grounding of the ball, a collapse of a maul in the build up resulted in Charlie Ewels receiving a yellow card.
Bordeaux capitalised on their numerical advantage only one minute later via Ben Tameifuna, the 150 kilo prop forward could not be stopped from close range, extending his team’s lead to 10 points following the conversion kick.
The home side secured their place in the final after a loose pass was picked up by Temo Matiu who then scored their final try of the match.
Bath fought until the very end, developing an overlap which was then kicked by Henry Arundell allowing Tom Carr-Smith to score the final try of the match resulting in a final score of 38 – 26 to Bordeaux
Challenge Cup
Ulster vs Exeter Chiefs (29 – 12)
Ulster hosted Exeter Chiefs in the first semi-final fixture of the Challenge Cup.
It took 27 minutes for the deadlock to be broken, the home side worked their way to within touching distance of their opposition’s try-line.
After multiple pick-and-go carries, number eight Juarno Augustus powered through the tackles and scored the first try of the match.
Exeter, who had developed a promising looking attack were halted in their tracks as Immanuel Feyi-Waboso was knocked out from a high tackle from Jacob Stockdale.
The Chiefs took advantage of their situation scoring their first points of the match via Italian international Ross Vintcent who dived over the line following a fast paced attack.
A penalty kick edged Ulster ahead before the half time break leaving the score at 10 points to seven.
The home side took control of the match early into the second half despite a determined Exeter defence Ulster created an overlap which sent fly-half Jack Murphy in for his first try of the match.
Ulster extended their lead further after an excellent passing sequence in the middle of the park created space for the winger on the outside.
Despite an excellent covering tackle from Chiefs centre Len Ikitau, the Ulster side simply had too many players in support, blindside flanker Dave McCann received the ball at pace scoring their third try of the match.
With hope of reaching the final looking less and less likely for the Chiefs, a devastating driving maul sealed that fate as Ulster hooker Tom Stewart powered over the line for the try.
Despite a comeback not being an option, Exeter didn’t give up and fought to the end, they ended up having the last say on the match as winger Campbell Ridl scored a try at the end of the game.
Final score: Ulster 29 – 12 Exeter
Montpellier Herault vs Dragons RFC (18 – 12)
The deciding game for who would progress and face Ulster in the final showcased Montpellier hosting the Dragons.
The home side gained the lead inside the first 10 minutes of the match via a penalty kick from Thomas Vincent.
It took 24 minutes of rugby before either team scored their first try, Montpellier second row Tyler DuGuid received an offload with open space between himself and the try line, diving over for the first score of the match.
The Dragons who had looked promising despite finding themselves behind responded with a try of their own.
A kick over the top caused the home side all sorts of problems as it was dropped in their own dead ball zone while trying to claim the kick, Dragons centre Aneurin Owen was first to react, tapping the ball down for the try.
Another penalty kick was successfully converted on the brink of half time, extending the home side’s lead to 13 points to five.
A closely contested second half ensued with both teams struggling to take control of the game, a deliberate knock on from Montpellier’s Nika Abuladze resulted in a yellow card reducing the home side down to 14 players.
Despite this, another try was scored to the delight of the home fans.
Fast thinking from the scrum half Alexis Bernadet allowed him to snipe with a pick and go scoring the try.
The Dragons player’s head did not drop as they pushed to bring themselves back into the game.
A second try for Aneurin Owen was scored with eight minutes left on the clock, the inside centre ran a fantastic line splitting through the middle of the home side defence.
Unfortunately for the travelling fans this try was not enough and Montpellier were able to see out the victory claiming their spot in the final of the Challenge Cup.
Final score: Montpellier 18 – 12 Dragons RFC.
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Geoffrey H. Latayan