SIX OF THE BEST FINALS
1999: Bourgoin 16 Montferrand 35
Bourgoin had been the tournament’s first winners two years earlier but Montferrand – now Clermont – were using the competition to regenerate the cub. Guy Merceron kicked 20 points as a pack including Oliver Azam and current club supremo Jean-Marc Lhermet took control. The attendance of 31,986 at Stade Gerland in Lyon for what amounted to a local derby in midFrance is still the second highest attendance for a Challenge Cup final.
2001: Harlequins 42 Narbonne 33 (aet)
Quins’ first tournament win came in dramatic fashion in extra-time at the Majedski in a wildly entertaining game. Paul Burke kicked no fewer than 27 points – including a dropped goal – and there were tries for Daren O’Leary, Pat Sanderson and speedster Ben Gollings. A strong Narbonne side scored tries through Maro Ledesma, Ignacio Corletto and Scotland No.8 Stuart Reid. The final minutes were marred by a career-ending knee injury to Quins Australian captain David Wilson.
2003: Wasps 48 Bath 30
An extremely high-quality final and a taste of things to come from Wasps under Warren Gatland who won all eight matches en route to the final and also took the first of three straight Premiership titles. The guts of their 2004 European Cup winning team was all in place – Dallaglio, Lewsey, Waters, King, Worsley, Shaw et al. They ran in six tries on this occasion with Alex King converting them all while a very useful Bath team chalked up five themselves.
2005: Sale Sharks 27 Pau 3
Another match which sounded a warning for those who were listening. Sale had won their first Challenge Cup in 2002 and three years later had kicked on and on with the side that stormed to the 2006 Premiership title. Sheridan, Fernandez Lobbe, Chabal, Robinson, Redpath and others were at full bore as they swept a very strong Pau team aside. Charlie Hodgson was at his best, scoring two tries himself and creating other scores for Mark Cueto and Andy Titterell.
2006: Gloucester 36 London Irish 34 (aet)
London Irish, seemingly dead and buried with ten minutes remaining, scored two late tries from Olivier Magne and Robbie Russell to make it 31-31. Indeed Barry Everitt – normally so reliable – had a touchline conversion to win the match but was just wide. So extra time it was – still something of a novelty in rugby – and a match-winning try from James Forrester who chased his own kick ahead and won the touchdown.
2011: Harlequins 19 Stade Francais 18
A record breaking third title for Quins but they left it late with Pumas wing Gonzalo Camacho scoring in the corner with less than two minutes left which still left Nick Evans having to fire over a touchline conversion to clinch the win. Earlier Evans had kicked four penalties in a tight, niggly affair while for Stade Lionel Beauxis banged over four penalties and a dropped goal. There was also that collector’s item, a Mathieu Bastareaud dropped goal.