Connacht progress as Exiles perish

London Irish’s exploits in Europe ended with a thump as Narbonne took them apart 29-10 at Parc des Sports et de l’Amitie tonight.

Narbonne took an early 12-0 lead in the tie with fly-half Cedric Rosalen slotting three penalty goals and a dropped goal to wipe out the Exiles’ seven-point advantage from their 20-13 first-leg victory.

There was more woe for Irish when winger Julien Candelon crossed for the first try of the game – his second against the Exiles in a week – and the deadly Rosalen’s conversion gave the home side a 12-point lead overall.

Back-rower Frederic Martinez added a second try for Narbonne, Rosalen again converting, while all the visitors could manage was a Mark Mapletoft penalty goal as the home side took a daunting 26-3 lead into the half-time break.

Michael Horak scored for the visitors in the second 40, but they needed about four more tries to upset the home side.

Narbonne’s Cup quarter-final opponents are Connacht, who lost 10-6 at Pau but go through on points difference.

Connacht went to Pau with a healthy 22-point advantage after a 29-7 victory at the Sportsground, but the feeling in the camp was that it might not be enough against the French heavyweights.

Veteran fly-half Eric Elwood eased those concerns with two penalty goals in atrocious conditions, and despite two second-half tries to Pau, the Irish province was never in danger of missing out on a berth in the next round.

France international Damien Traille and winger Rida Jaouher scored second-half tries to give Pau the victory, but the result was academic.

Beziers earned a quarter-final meeting with Bath after a 24-8 victory over Grenoble.