Lyon fight back to set up battle with Wasps

LYON will host Wasps in the Challenge Cup semifinals next week after overturning a 14-point deficit to floor Glasgow.

Warriors led 27-13 early in the second half after adding a penalty try to first-half scores from wingers Josh McKay and Cole Forbes.

But their hopes of a first ever European semi-final at the fourth attempt unravelled as Lyon scored 22 answered points in the final 25 minutes to progress, 19year-old Georgian wing Davit Niniashvili grabbing a brace of tries.

Leo Berdeu kicked the hosts ahead with a penalty but Glasgow countered brilliantly as McKay chipped ahead down the right flank and pounced for the opening score. A second Berdeu penalty reduced the arrears but Ali Price was unfortunate not to score when he hacked on a loose ball over the line and appeared to get a touch to it, but Matt Carley adjudged Lyon scrum-half Baptiste Couilloud got there first.

Glasgow continued to force penalties and Ross Thompson landed two shots at goal to make it 13-6. Lyon had a try for Beka Saginadze ruled out for a clear neck-grab from lock Felix Lambey on Glasgow prop Zander Fagerson, but they made light of that setback, sending Glasgow’s scrum hurtling backwards before Couilloud scuttled over from a quick tap penalty to level at 13-13.

But Warriors were again rewarded for their ambition after kicking a penalty to touch, Sam Johnson and McKay combining to send Forbes over in the corner, Thompson converting for a 20-13 interval lead.

Glasgow earned a scrum penalty and then a penalty try as the Lyon set-piece buckled again.

Berdeu was also sinbinned for coming in the side of the maul, but Glasgow prop Jamie Bhatti swiftly joined him for the same offence as Warriors scrambled to deny Saginadze a try in the corner. But there was no stopping the giant Romain Taofifenua crashing over and after a barnstorming run from prop Demba Bamba, Lyon closed to within two points when Pierre-Louis Barassi released Niniashvili to race into the left corner.

Berdeu’s third penalty put Lyon in front and when Niniashvili sprinted onto Doussain’s clever chip for his second, Glasgow’s race was run.