Clermont win Challenge Cup after beating La Rochelle

Colin Newboult
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ASM Clermont Auvergne players celebrate with the trophy after winning the Challenge Cup Final at St James' Park, Newcastle.

Clermont Auvergne secured their third Challenge Cup title – and first since 2007 – after a dominant 36-16 triumph over La Rochelle at St James’ Park in Newcastle on Friday.

Clermont controlled much of the first half and deservedly went into the break 13-6 in front through Damian Penaud’s try and a penalty apiece from Morgan Parra and Greig Laidlaw.

Ihaia West kicked a pair of three-pointers for the Top 14’s fourth placed side and added a third effort off the tee in the second period, but Auvergne were simply too good.

Les Jaunards are known for their inability to win big finals but they had enough to overcome La Rochelle as Laidlaw kicked two more penalties before Fritz Lee touched down.

Their opponents battled valiantly and were rewarded via Uini Atonio’s close range effort, but Clermont sealed the win when Wesley Fofana went over.

Franck Azema’s men were favourites going into this contest and they justified that tag throughout. They put their French rivals under pressure immediately with George Moala and Alivereti Raka combining well down the left-hand side, helping them move to within inches of the line.

To La Rochelle’s credit, their rearguard was excellent and prevented Auvergne from opening the scoring until the 12th minute when the pressure eventually yielded a successful penalty from Parra.

Evidently buoyed by their defensive efforts, the Stade Marcel-Deflandre outfit attempted to get on the front foot and found some success through Wiaan Liebenberg and West surges, but they were unable to benefit.

Instead, Clermont were regularly turning over ball, providing them with chances in the opposition half, and Laidlaw, who came on for the injured Parra, made it a six-point buffer.

West did reduce the arrears from the tee but Les Jaunards were having the better of proceedings and it was no surprise to see them touch down when the excellent Penaud scampered over.

At that point, Jono Gibbes’ charges could have folded, with the Top 14 semi-finalists dominant, but La Rochelle battled and remained in the contest at the interval through their fly-half’s second three-pointer.

They then began the second period on the front foot with Arthur Retiere and Kevin Gourdon particularly prominent and it earned a penalty, but West failed to convert.

The pivot did make up for that moments later, though, bisecting the uprights after 48 minutes, but Laidlaw kept Gibbes’ outfit at arm’s length.

La Rochelle were in the contest but they were starting to be far too loose at the contact area and duly conceded a couple of penalties. One of those led to a three-pointer for the Auvergne replacement scrum-half before the second gave Clermont field position to mount an attack.

It proved costly, leading to the score which ultimately secured the title for Les Jaunards when a dominant maul ended in Lee crossing the whitewash.

Gibbes’ team did hit back through Atonio but it proved to be mere consolation as Fofana made certain of the win before Laidlaw had the final word with another penalty.

The scorers:

For Clermont:
Tries: Penaud, Lee, Fofana
Cons: Laidlaw 3
Pens: Para, Laidlaw 4
Yellow Card: Raka

For La Rochelle:
Try: Atonio
Con: West
Pens: West 3

Clermont: 15 Isaia Toeava, 14 Damian Penaud, 13 George Moala, 12 Wesley Fofana, 11 Alivereti Raka, 10 Camille Lopez, 9 Morgan Parra (c), 8 Fritz Lee, 7 Alexandre Lapandry, 6 Arthur Iturria, 5 Sébastien Vahaamahina, 4 Sitaleki Timani, 3 Rabah Slimani, 2 Benjamin Kayser, 1 Etienne Falgoux
Replacements: 16 John Ulugia, 17 Beka Kakabadze, 18 Davit Zirakashvili, 19 Paul Jedrasiak, 20 Peceli Yato, 21 Greig Laidlaw, 22 Tim Nanai-Williams, 23 Apisai Naqalevu

La Rochelle: 15 Vincent Rattez, 14 Arthur Retiere, 13 Geoffrey Doumayrou, 12 Pierre Aguillon, 11 Marc Andreu, 10 Ihaia West, 9 Tawera Kerr-Barlow, 8 Grégory Alldritt, 7 Kevin Gourdon, 6 Wiaan Liebenberg, 5 Mathieu Tanguy, 4 Romain Sazy (c), 3 Uini Atonio, 2 Jean-Charles Orioli, 1 Dany Priso
Replacements: 16 Pierre Bourgarit, 17 Vincent Pelo, 18 Arthur Joly, 19 Thomas Jolmes, 20 Zeno Kieft, 21 Alexi Bales, 22 Jérémy Sinzelle, 23 Levani Botia

Referee: Wayne Barnes (England)
Assistant referees: Luke Pearce (England), Matthew Carley (England)
TMO: Rowan Kitt (England)

Challenge Cup