URC QFs: Stormers get the job done, Sharks no match for Leinster
The Stormers claimed a convincing 33-21 win over the Bulls at Cape Town Stadium on Saturday. John Dobbo’s men were in charge from the get-go and never looked like losing, although it must be said that the Pretoria Boys were rocked prior to kick-off following the late withdrawal of the injured Canan Moodie, with their enforced backline rejig never quite clicking.
Leinster were far too good for an injury-depleted Sharks outfit and eased to a routine 35-5 win despite trailing after seven-minutes after a well-taken Grant Williams touchdown. In the weekend’s final encounter, Munster took full advantage of a 25th-minute red card to Glasgow flyhalf Tom Jordan to come away from the Scotstoun with a 14-5 victory. The result came at a cost though, with the great Peter O’Mahony going off after just five minutes with an arm injury and is seemingly a doubt for the last four.
Connacht’s 15-10 fantastic upset defeat of Ulster in Belfast on Friday means the Capetonians will host the Western Irish outfit in the first semi-final this weekend, while Leinster and Munster clash in a classic all-Irish derby in Dublin in the second.
Currie Cup R9: Wins for top two
Saturday saw the Free State Cheetahs recorded a hard-fought 26-21 win over Western Province in Bloemfontein while the Pumas comfortably saw off the Griffons 45-25 in Mbombela. The results mean Hawies Fourie’s outfit continue to lead the way on 36-points, with the Pumas one place and two-points back and the third-placed Sharks on 28 for the season.
The Durbanites defeated the Blue Bulls 41-27 at Loftus, with the fourth-placed Griquas picking up a 25-21 victory over the Golden Lions in Kimberley.
Prem R20: Bath end season on a high, Tigers seal third
In the final round of the Gallagher Premiership, Bath’s 61-29 thumping of table-toppers Saracens at The Rec secured them an unlikely place in next season’s Champions Cup. The result, at the expense of a third-string Sarries side, nailed down eighth-place, pipping Bristol on points difference despite their 36-21 win over bottom-placed Gloucester at Ashton Gate. Meanwhile, Leicester finished third in spite of a 17-20 home loss to Harlequins (sixth).
In the other two results of the weekend, second-placed Sale beat Newcastle 54-12 at the AJ Bell and London Irish, who finished just one place and three-points off the top four, defeated Exeter 17-14 in Brentford.
The semi-finals see Saracens host Northampton, who had a bye on the weekend, and Tigers tackle the Sharks in Manchester.
Top 14 R24: Toulouse and La Rochelle collect wins
Leaders Toulouse saw off the challenge of Bordeaux-Begles 31-17 at the Stadium Municipal on Sunday, while reigning European champions and current finalists La Rochelle bagged a valuable 23-8 win at Toulon. The five-time Challenge Cup winners have amassed 75-points, with Ronan O’Gara’s men one-point back in second with just two rounds left until the playoffs.
In other results, third-placed Stade Francais fell 16-32 at Clermont, fourth-placed Racing beat Bayonne 55-14 in Paris, Pau smacked last season’s runners-up Castres 40-3 at the Stade de Hameau, hosts Lyon overcame Perpignan 41-31 and defending champs Montpellier were upset 26-27 by bottom-placed Brive at the GGL.
SR Pacific R10: Chiefs go 10 from 10, Drua upset Canes
Runaway leaders the Chiefs (45-points) earned their 10th successive win in a 52-28 result over the Highlanders in Dunedin to keep intact their unbeaten season, while eighth-placed Fijian Drua edged the Hurricanes (fifth) 27-24 at ANZ Stadium.
Elsewhere, the Crusaders overpowered the Force 48-13 in Christchurch, the third-placed Blues squeaked past winless Moana Pasifika 31-30 at Eden Park, the Waratahs picked up a 32-24 victory in Brisbane over the Reds and the Brumbies (second) beat the Rebels 33-26 in Melbourne.
