Exiles book quarter-finals spot

London Irish breezed into the European Challenge Cup quarter-finals against a poor Pau side at Madejski Stadium today.

The Exiles went into the match knowing a win would guarantee a home quarter-final in the first weekend of April, and the match was over as a contest after barely 10 minutes.

The home pack destroyed the French scrum and dominated the lineout as they scored tries at will – including eight in the first half to take a 56-0 lead at the break.

Winger Delon Armitage secured the bonus point inside half an hour, and things began to get embarrassing when fellow winger Topsy Ojo bagged a quick-fire hat-trick – especially with outside-half Riki Flutey adding conversions from everywhere.

At Kingsholm, Gloucester secured a crucial top-two ranking in the quarter-finals with a workmanlike win over Bayonne.

Prop Gary Powell bagged a rare try double as the Cherry and Whites cruised to a 32-7 lead before letting in two late tries in front of an 8,000-strong crowd.

Front-rowers dominated the early scoring, with Powell rumbling over the try-line in the ninth minute, and young opposite number Aretz Iguiniz returning the favour moments later.

Bayonne’s veteran Test centre Richard Dourthe was yellow-carded midway through the first half for a late tackle on Mercier, and Powell completed a memorable double as Dourthe cooled his heels.

Fullback Olly Morgan put the result beyond doubt with a clever five-pointer and England international Mike Tindall secured the bonus point with a try on the hour mark.

Barely 900 fans turned up to watch as Border Reivers ended their European campaign with an entertaining five-try victory over Italian minnows L’Aquila.

The Italians opened the scoring with an Alberto di Bernardo penalty goal, but were reeling after the Reivers ran in three quick-fire tries. Stuart Moffat, Calum MacRae and Nikki Walker all crossed, but L’Aquila stemmed the flow through centre Nicolas Canavasio and Test prop Andrea Lo Cicero and Reivers had a game on their hands with a 22-15 lead at halftime.

Young fly-half James King and replacement Charlie Hore edged the home side further ahead with goals at regular intervals, and Reivers sealed the win with late tries to props Paul Thomson and Geoff Cross.

In two other matches between sides who were already out of quarter-final contention, Bucuresti secured an historic win in Europe with a 23-17 result at Toulon, and Agen comfortably beat Rugby Parma 33-17.

Bucuresti and Toulon were tied at 10-10 at halftime, but tries to centre Catalin Fercu and backrower Daniel Carpo sealed the victory.

Agen raced to a 26-10 lead at halftime against the Italian club were never in danger.