Clermont seal semi-final place

CLERMONT AUVERGNE became the first side to advance to the Amlin Challenge Cup semi-finals last night after defeating French rivals La Rochelle 23-13.

An early Aurélien Rougerie try and the boot of Brock James had the Auvergnats 10-6 to the good after the first quarter, with South African full-back Greg Goosen kicking two penalties for the hosts.

Clermont led 13-6 at the break and the game hung in the balance until Goosen scored a converted try with 15 minutes to play to level the scores.

But a try from former Fiji U20 captain Kini Murimurivalu and a further penalty from James sealed the visitors’ win.

They will now travel to the winner of Stade Francais’s clash with Montpellier in another all-French tie in the last four.

Scorers for La Rochelle: G Goosen try, con, 2 pens.

Scorers for Clermont: A Rougerie, K Murimurivalu try each; B James 2 cons, 3 pens.