Exiles fall as Stade finish with a flourish
TONY Ensor’s lastgasp try ended London Irish’s Challenge Cup hopes as holders Stade Francais edged a sixtry thriller to keep their quarter-final ambitions alive.
It was cruel on the Irish whose young side, fired by fly-half Theo Brophy Clews and featuring notable performances from Ben Loader, Rory Brand and Johnny Williams, battled into a 20-19 lead with just two minutes of an enthralling contest left.
However, they were unable to hold out, leaving rugby director Nick Kennedy to reflect: “It’s heartbreaking but when they can bring on top class French internationals like Jonathan Danty and Jules Plisson, that’s what makes the difference.
“It’s really disappointing but the effort and performance was excellent. Seb de Chaves led from the front, Gordon Reid had a great game and Theo Brophy Clews controlled things well from No.10, so there are so many positives we can take.”
Irish began brightly and Loader was dragged down short before Stade, with former Exiles playmaker Shane Geraghty looking sharp, went close through Sekou Macalou and Romain Martial.
Geraghty combined beautifully with Theo Millet, forcing Irish to scramble back. Scott Steele’s hurried clearance enabled Stade to build pressure and, after Bakary Meite was held up, Ensor’s cross-kick found Martial for a superb score.
Irish, with props Reid and Lovejoy Chawatama driving hard, responded with a period of heavy pressure and their attack finally clicked as Brophy Clews engineered space, enabling Reid to offload to Steele for another fine try.
Exiles should have bagged their second try but Seb De Chaves and Tom Fowlie were both held short before a close-range lineout was butchered – and they would have paid a heavy price had Clement Daguin gathered Ensor’s punt.
Irish were denied a try when Tonks’ pass to Brophy Clews drifted forward, but Tonks soon bagged a penalty after Steele was taken out.
The home side led 10-5 and emerged strongly after the break as Williams combined with Steele to send Tom Fowlie through. But Irish conceded a penalty and Stade nearly punished their wastefulness when Geraghty’s cross-kick narrowly eluded Macalou.
Irish came again and this time they were ruthless as Tonks kicked a penalty to the corner and a superbly
executed drive drew a penalty try.
Stade were harshly denied a try when Ensor’s superb reverse pass to Daguin was wrongly judged forward, but they had better luck from their next attack as their forwards created a platform for Heinke van der Merwe to plunge over.
Tonks missed a penalty to stretch Irish’s advantage and Stade punished them again on 66 minutes when Martial’s wonderful offload enabled Daguin to put Waisea Nayacalevu under the posts, with Geraghty converting for a 19-17 lead.
Irish needed a big response and got one when, with replacement scrumhalf Brand sparking their attack into life, aided by the impressive Brophy Clews, Stade’s Danty put hands in a ruck and Tonks booted them into a one-point lead.
However, a furious finish from Stade ended in misery for the Exiles as Plisson flicked on Daguin’s pass for Ensor to complete the kill.
Relieved Geraghty said: “It’s great to get that bonus point win. Edinburgh are in pole position but we’ve given ourselves a chance to get through in second place if we can now win our last two games.”