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The 2012/13 European rugby season kicks-off with what promises to be another feisty Anglo-French Amlin Challenge Cup encounter between Mont-de-Marsan and Gloucester Rugby. - 10/10/2012 07:51
The 2012/13 European rugby season kicks-off with what promises to be another feisty Anglo-French Amlin Challenge Cup encounter between Mont-de-Marsan and Gloucester Rugby.
These teams have had vastly contrasting fortunes in their domestic league so far this season but European rugby is a great leveller.
Gloucester, who won the Amlin Challenge Cup in 2006, have lost just one of their opening six games and include England veteran Mike Tindall as well as Charlie Sharples, who is seeking his 40th try for the club.
However the Cherry & Whites are prone to blowing hot and cold in Europe, having failed to progress to the knock-out stages for the past two years.
It is almost 10 years since Mont-de-Marsan registered their last European success, against Petrarca Padova in January 2003, and have yet to win in the Top 14 this year.
But they will be buoyed at having picked up their first point of the campaign, against Stade Francais Paris last Saturday, and have the vast experience of former Scotland international Scott Murray to help prepare for the challenge of Gloucester at Stade Guy Boniface.
Pour sa dernière rencontre européenne de la saison
The European club rugby season got underway on Thursday night when Gloucester won a tight tussle with Mont de Marsan in the Amlin Challenge Cup.
A first-half try from left-wing Ian Clark on his European debut proved the difference between the two teams in difficult conditions at the Stade Guy Boniface.
Clark crossed on the half hour after a fine break from scrum-half Dave Lewis. Lewis sliced through at a base of a ruck on the edge of the 22 and had the presence of mind to present the ball to be recycled rather than reach for the line when he was dragged down just short.
Gloucester immediately made the most of the extra numbers as Clark dotted down for the only try of the game just moments after Mont de Marsan’s Scottish lock Scott Murray had been the first player to be sinbinned.
Clark’s try was the only score of the opening half but Tim Taylor made it 8-0 with a 53rd minute penalty two minutes after replacement hooker Ephraïm Taukafa also saw yellow.
Gloucester flanker Andy Hazell then endured a nightmare spell as he threatened to let Mont de Marsan back into the game. First the veteran openside gave away a penalty that Jean Baptiste Claverie kicked to make it 8-3 and then he threw a flurry of punches and a knee after being taken out late on 55 minutes.
Hazell saw red for his outburst but Gloucester hung on despite having fellow back rower Matt Cox sin binned for his involvement in the same incident.
Billy Twelvetees struck a penalty on 63 minutes to push the visitors two scores clear and an even a second kick from Claverie late on couldn’t prevent Gloucester leaving with a valuable win.
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