Friday night was nothing short of a show of strength from British clubs, as Bath, Northampton and Edinburgh all booked emphatic quarter-final berths in the Challenge Cup. With commanding wins over Pau, Clermont and South Africa’s Lions respectively, the trio sent out a strong statement as the knockout stages got underway. Here’s a look at these impressive victories that lit up the round of 16.
Bath Lay Down a Marker with Ruthless Win in Pau.
It didn’t take long to realise Bath had travelled to the Béarn with serious intent. Even without Finn Russell, the English side delivered a near-flawless performance to dismantle Pau 49-24 on their own turf at Stade du Hameau. Dominant in all areas, Bath set the tempo early on, Cokanasiga opening the scoring with a powerful surge before a slick move put Pau under immediate pressure. A well-balanced attacking game, dominant mauls and the assured boot of Ciaran Donoghue quickly created a gap on the scoreboard.
Pau briefly hit back through Carwyn Tuipulotu, cousin of Bath’s rising star Kepu, narrowing the deficit to 10-14, but Bath never looked rattled. Donoghue, flawless from the tee and electric in open play, was one of the standouts, producing a stunning assist and converting all seven tries. The visitors’ control only grew after the break, even with Sam Underhill sent off, a red card that barely disrupted the flow. Tom Dunn, McConnochie and Reid all crossed the whitewash as Bath ran in seven tries, many the result of perfectly executed build-up play. Pau rallied late out of pride, but the damage was long done : 49-28 to the visitors.
Down to 14 men, Bath didn’t buckle, quite the opposite. Their collective cohesion, power at scrum-time and clinical transition play saw them through with flying colours. This convincing away win further cements Bath’s credentials as genuine title contenders. Top of the Premiership and fresh off their first silverware in 29 years, a dominant 48-14 win over Exeter in the Premiership Cup final on 16 March, Bath are enjoying a season to remember.
Northampton Put Clermont to the Sword Thanks to Their England Stars.
At Franklin’s Gardens, Clermont looked like they might make a game of it early on. A strong opening and a well-taken Moala try gave the visitors a 10-0 lead after 12 minutes. But once Northampton found their rhythm, the tide turned decisively. Fin Smith and Alex Mitchell clicked into gear, increasing the tempo and capitalising on every Clermont error. The relentless pace imposed by the Saints put the French side firmly on the back foot.
The game’s pivotal moment came just before half-time, when Clermont were reduced to 13 men after two yellow cards in quick succession. Northampton pounced, crossing twice, one just before the break and one immediately after, to open up a commanding 34-10 lead by the 50th minute. Clermont briefly clawed their way back with two converted tries during a 10-minute lull from the Saints, cutting the deficit to 10 points. But just five minutes later, Northampton reasserted control, with Tommy Freeman crossing for his second of the night. Henry Pollock then capped off a brilliant individual display with Northampton’s seventh try, having earlier sparked Freeman’s opener with a crucial turnover and quick decision to go wide.
Northampton showed they have the firepower to go deep in the competition : a top-class half-back pairing in Smith and Mitchell, pace out wide, and a forward pack that means business. More importantly, the Saints bounced back from a dip in league form by making a bold statement on the European stage. With 46 points scored and seven tries in total, they’ve thrown down the gauntlet ahead of a home quarter-final. As for Clermont, the contrast was stark – disjointed, depleted and outgunned, they had no answer to a confident English outfit.
Composed Edinburgh See Off Lions with Clinical Performance.
In the calm surroundings of the Hive Stadium, Edinburgh didn’t have to dig too deep to dispatch the Lions 24-12. It took just a few minutes for Scotland international Darcy Graham to slice through the South African defence and open the scoring, before Wes Goosen, making his 50th club appearance, finished off a superb team move. The Scots were ruthless in the first half, scoring three tries and taking firm control against a Lions side that struggled to respond.
Edinburgh’s game plan, built on quick ball and suffocating defence, worked to perfection. The second half was tighter and less flamboyant, but the home side managed the game with discipline and intelligence. Their defensive display, in particular, drew praise from head coach Sean Everitt, who was proud to see his side nullify a team known for its brute strength.
In the quarter-finals, Edinburgh will face either Bayonne or one of the remaining South African contenders, most likely the Bulls from Pretoria. Crucially, the match will take place in the Scottish capital, a small but potentially decisive advantage.
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