Clermont rue errors as Stade sneak to final

STADE FRANCAIS will lie in wait for the winners of Munster versus Harlequins in the Amlin Challenge Cup final after beating Clermont Auvergne 29-25 in a French derby semi-final at Stade Charlety.

Tries from Julien Arias and Guillaume Bousses proved crucial for Stade but Clermont will rue gaffes by stand-in Clermont fly-half Brent Russell.

Although Russell grabbed a try to complement Tusiata Pisi's opener, his mistakes proved crucial.

Lionel Beauxis gave Stade the lead with a penalty in the 12th minute. Rodrigo Roncero infringed against Morgan Parra almost immediately, though, and the Clermont scrum-half kicked to level.

The visitors then scored the evening's first try — a flowing move finished by Pisi. Parra added the extras.

Russell then made his first gaffe, a pass straight to Arias in the 22nd minute which the wing converted into a try.

Beauxis then levelled and added another nine points with penalties in the 28th, 32nd and 36th minutes.

His run was broken two minutes into the second half, with Parra kicking his second penalty of the evening four minutes later.

Russell then grabbed his try. Taking a quick pass off the back of the scrum from replacement Sione Lauaki, he kicked and ran to touch down, with Parra converting to leave Clermont a point ahead.

Beauxis then kicked Stade two points ahead.

But Russell then committed his second howler as a stray pass was snatched by Bousses, with Beauxis converting.

Russell was immediately replaced, with Parra missing a penalty with six minutes to go.

Clermont pressed and Cudmore grabbed his try with four minutes left. Parra missed the conversion but kicked to the corner with 90 seconds left on the clock but Stade held on for victory.

Stade Francais scorers: Tries: Arias, Bousses. Cons: Beauxis 2. Pens: Beauxis 5. Clermont Auvergne scorers: Tries: Pisi, Russell, Cudmore. Cons: Parra 2. Pens: Parra 2.

STADE FRANCAIS: Southwell, Arias, Bastareaud, Tiesi, Bousses, Beauxis, Dupuy, Roncero, Sempere, Attoub, Palmer, Pape, Haskell, Burban, Parisse. Replacements: Phillips for Arias (78), Weber for Roncero (77), Bonfils for Sempere (24), Slimani for Attoub (50), Leguizamon for Burban (18).

CLERMONT AUVERGNE: Tries: Pisi, Russell, Cudmore. Cons: Parra 2. Pens: Parra 2. Clermont Auvergne: Pisi, Fofana, Rougerie, Joubert, Murimurivalu, Russell, Parra, Debaty, Wepener, Zirakashvili, Pierre, Privat, Cudmore, Bardy, Vermeulen. Replacements: Floch for Pisi (60), Canale for Joubert (61), Senio for Russell (67), Faure for Debaty (67), Ledesma for Wepener (59), Scelzo for Zirakashvili (67), Lauaki for Pierre (48), Audebert for Bardy (44).

Ref: N Owens (WRFU).