Connacht get impressive win over Montpellier

Connacht kept the pressure on Worcester in Pool 5 with an impressive 43-10 win over Montpellier.

The home side led only 7-3 at the break, but moved up several gears in the second spell to run away with the match. Backrower Matthew Lacey and centre Keith Matthews helped themselves to try doubles to secure a valuable victory.

London Irish sneaked home 19-11 against Rugby Parma in Italy, and can secure a valuable home quarter-final with a win over Pau next weekend.

Outside-half Ross Laidlaw capped a fine game with a first-half try, before backrowers Phil Murphy and Declan Danaher scored to seal the victory at Stade Sergio Lanfranchi.

Gloucester director of rugby Dean Ryan insisted it was a case of “job done” after a scratchy European Challenge Cup win in Bucharest yesterday.

Gloucester ground out a 27-13 victory over a winless Bucuresti to ensure quarter-final qualification, and Ryan paid tribute to the home side.

Northampton moved ahead of Bristol in Pool 1 with a 45-8 win over their English rivals in front of a Challenge Cup-record crowd of 12,227 at Franklin’s Gardens.

New Zealanders were to the fore, with backrower Sam Harding scoring a try double in the opening 10 minutes to propel the Saints to a comfortable victory ahead of next weekend’s final Pool match against Viadana in Italy.

Another New Zealander, fly-half Carlos Spencer, added a first-half try as the Saints took a 19-3 lead into halftime, and a third Kiwi, scrum-half Mark Robinson, sealed a bonus point.

England winger Ben Cohen scored his side’s fifth and sixth tries, and New Zealand fullback Bruce Reihana added 10 points with the boot.

Bristol lock Mariano Sambucetti scored a last-minute consolation for the visitors.

Worcester retained the top spot in Pol 5 with a comfortable 44-8 win over Amatori Catania at Sixways Stadium.

The home side eased to a 25-0 lead on the back of tries to centre Dale Rasmussen and backrowers Johnny Tuamoheloa and Drew Hickey, and bagged a try bonus point in the opening exchanges of the second half.

Catania stemmed the flow midway through the second spell before conceding a last-minute try to former England scrum-half Andy Gomarsall.

In Pool 4, Brive hammered L’Aquila 47-19 in Italy.

Pool 4 leaders Newcastle Falcons play Border Reivers tomorrow.

On Friday night, Bayonne kept the pressure on Gloucester in Pool 3 with a 62-0 mauling of fellow French club Touloun. Bayonne ran in 10 tries, including three to winger Benjamin Lhande.