Amlin Challenge Cup - Round 4
Perpignan get Warriors revenge
ESPN Staff
December 15, 2012
Gloucester's Shane Monahan darts past Tom Homer, Gloucester v London Irish, Amlin Challenge Cup, Kingsholm, Gloucester, England, December 15, 2012
Gloucester's Shane Monahan goes over against London Irish © Getty Images
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Perpignan bounced back after in the last round to record a 13-6 win over a spirited Worcester Warriors side on Saturday evening in the Amlin Challenge Cup.

Worcester beat the Top 14 side last week but in a dire affair in Perpignan, the home side did enough in the first-half to secure their victory. Ex-Wasps fullback Richard Haughton crashed over for Perpignan after eight minutes and a further eight points from the boot of James Hook brought up their 13-point total. Worcester's Andy Goode hit a first-half penalty which meant they went into the break 13-3 down. And in the second 40, Goode nailed one further penalty to secure the Warriors their losing bonus point.

Earlier on Saturday, a quartet of tries from winger Shane Monahan helped Gloucester to a crushing 47-3 win over London Irish and keeps the Cherry and Whites on top in Pool 1.

A penalty from full-back Tom Homer was all the Exiles could muster as Gloucester dominated the match with six tries in total. Monahan's two first-half tries combined with fly-half Freddie Burns' precise kicking from the boot put Gloucester 23-3 up at half-time.

Fullback Rob Cook scored early in the second-half which was followed by a brace from Monahan and a final score from replacement Dan Robson. And Gloucester also had to cope with playing to periods of the second-half with 14-men with Will James and Koree Britton both sin-binned.

Elsewhere in Gloucester's group, Mont-de-Marsan overcame Bordeaux Begles 18-7 on Friday. Arnaud Pic and William Ryder crossed for the home side while Bordeaux's try came through Gautier Gibouin.

Bath strengthened their position at the top of Pool 4 in this year's Amlin Challenge Cup with a 39-5 victory over Calvisano in San Michele thanks to a hat-trick by winger Horacio Agulla.

Having demolished the Italians 67-11 in the home leg, Bath were again quick to get on the scoreboard through Simon Taylor and a brace from speedster Agulla. Fellow winger Tom Biggs went over for another try and two conversions from fly-half Stephen Donald made it 24-0 to the visitors at half-time.

After the break Bath continued to pile on the pressure through a try from full-back Jack Cuthbert but were unable to break the Calvisano defence again until the 68th minute when substitute Mark McMillan went over to make it 0-34. Calvisano's Luigi Ferraro got one back for the Italians before Agulla added his third of the match just before the final whistle.

Meanwhile in Bath's group Agen beat Bucaresti 39-9 on Friday to move into second place. Agen ran in five tries with Marc Barthomeuf, Ueleni Fono, Belisario Agulla, Benjamin Petre and Mathieu Lamoulie all scoring.

Elsewhere on Saturday, London Welsh failed to beat Grenoble in Pool 3, suffering a 27-13 defeat at the Kassam Stadium. Two tries from Grenoble hooker Laurent Bouchet put the away side in front early in the first-half and at the break were 6-15 behind. An early try from winger Florian Ninard put Grenoble further ahead in the second-half and despite a late try from substitute Mike Denbee the home side were unable to take the win.

And in the other match in London Welsh's pool, Stade Francais secured a 29-6 bonus-point victory over Cavalieri Prato on Thursday. Locks Juan Cruz Guillemain and Nicolas Garrault and centres Jeremy Sinzelle and Francis Fainifo all crossed for the hosts at the Stade Le Mans. Stade fullback Jerome Porical landed three conversions and a penalty for a personal haul of nine points while Cavalieri Prato's only points came through two Simone Ragusi penalties.

On Thursday, a late try from Andrea Masi helped Wasps secure a 30-16 victory over Bayonne to extend their lead at the top of Pool 3 in the Amlin Challenge Cup.

Wasps, who drew 13-13 in France last week, cruised into a 17-0 lead with a try and a penalty from Elliot Daly and three penalties from Stephen Jones. But saw Bayonne gradually claw back with a converted try from Joe Rokocoko and three penalties from Jacques-Louis Potgieter.

However with seven minutes remaining Masi's try put Wasps back in control of the match that had threatened to slip from their grasp, especially when No.8 Billy Vunipola was sin-binned in the 62nd minute. Replacement Nicky Robinson added the conversion and a further late penalty to confirm the victory, which moves them five points clear of Bayonne at the top of their group with four games played.

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