Connacht Advance in Parker Pen

Connacht have qualified for a quarter final spot of the Parker Pen Challenge
Cup on aggregate, even though they lost to Pau on Saturday 10-6. The final score
on aggregate after 2 games was 35-17.

Eric Elwood scored all Connacht’s 6 points 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 place 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.

Full Details at: www.connachtrugby.ie

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

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