London Irish had a second-half bonanza to book a European Challenge Cup date with Newcastle.

After a frustrating first-half, French opponents Bayonne had little to offer the Guinness Premiership fourth-placed side who ran in seven tries, with fly-half Riki Flutey contributing 16 of his team’s points.


The Exiles may be Irish by name but this was their chance to make it an all-English Premiership last four against a French outfit who were inconsistent last month.


Irish, though, suffered early trouble when loosehead prop Michael Collins was carried off the pitch after just two minutes having suffered a blow – to be replaced by Neil Hatley.


But that did not knock the home team’s confidence as, 10 minutes into the game, Bayonne fell behind from a big push from the opposition forwards.


They drove into the heart of the French forwards and were powerful enough to put Scottsh international hooker Robbie Russell over for the first of his tries, which Flutey converted from 22 metres.


The Exiles dominated proceedings but they failed to convert that pressure into points.


Twice they came close, though, as former England star Mike Catt burst through a gap in the Bayonne midfield and fed full-back Delon Armitage with 22 metres to go – however, the French cover raced back and Armitage was hauled down just inches short of the line.


And the Exiles squandered another golden opportunity when former international wing Justin Bishop, on as a replacement for Sailosi Tagicakibau after 27 minutes, set up number eight Olivier Magne – the star turn of the Exiles pack.


Bishop, faced with tacklers in front and beside im, gave a pass to Magne but, as the back row charged unopposed towards a second try, Scottish referee Martin Changeling pulled the move back for a forward pass.


Eventually, though, the score that London Irish had been threatening for a while arrived when Flutey kicked a drop goal that put his side two scores clear.


Bayonne nearly got some points when French international centre Richard Dourthe hit the post with a 40-yard drop goal attempt.


Itdid not help the French cause either that they lost big second row Thierry Cleda two minutes from half-time for a misdemeanour at a ruck.


Russell scored his second try of the game after his pack did him proud with a surging drive towards the opposition posts, then centre Gonzalo Tiesi went past a would-be tackler from a scissors on the left and dived for the score.


Soon Flutey, who had not missed a goal kick all day, got in on the try-scoring act and, just to keep his record intact, converted it as well, before Topsy Ojo grabbed the touchdown he had threatened earlier in the match after a superb move involving Magne.


Russell blotted his copybook by getting himself sin-binned in the final 15 minutes of the game before Bayonne’s replacement number eight Philip Van Shalkwyk was driven over for an unconverted try by his pack.


But it was brief comfort as replacemen Phil Murphy, on for Magne after 66 minutes, went over.


And the Exiles finished the match with just 13 men on the pitch as, with Russell in the sin-bin and having used all their replacements, Gonzalo Tiesi came off with a cut head.


And there was one final moment for the home fans to saviour as big lock Bob Casey dived between the posts for his side’s seventh try, whih replacement Shane Geraghty converted.