Sport

Armitage's late miss costs Irish

CHALLENGE CUP QUARTER-FINAL: London Irish 30 Bourgoin 3 2: DELON ARMITAGE missed a late chance to force extra-time as London…

Fri Apr 10 2009 - 01:00

CHALLENGE CUP QUARTER-FINAL: London Irish 30 Bourgoin 32: DELON ARMITAGE missed a late chance to force extra-time as London Irish were knocked out of the European Challenge Cup quarter-finals by Bourgoin in a rollercoaster match at the Madejski Stadium last night.

The French side looked assured of a semi-final place when replacement Matthieu Nicolas’ try helped put them 10 points ahead with time almost up.

But lock Nick Kennedy kicked a drop goal before flanker Steffon Armitage went over in the corner in an incredible finale.

But Armitage’s brother Delon, who kicked 17 points, was off target with the conversion attempt to leave the English Premiership as Irish’s sole route for Heineken Cup qualification.

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The first half was a tense affair with Irish going in at the break 12-9 ahead thanks to four Armitage penalties against two Morgan Parra penalties and a Benjamin Boyet drop goal.

Bourgoin were quick out of the blocks in the second half and good hands from Yann Labrit, Bogdan Leonte and Jean-Phillipe Genevois helped put full-back Anthony Forest away for the first try. Boyet added the extras.

But the hosts did finally make the breakthrough five minutes later. Topsy Ojo’s searing break laid the platform and after both Gower and Hewat had been held up just short, Mapusua barged over from close range. Armitage converted for a 19-16 advantage.

Yet instead of settling the home nerves, Bourgoin quickly re-established their lead thanks to two further Parra penalties.

Some urgency was finally injected into the home side’s game and with 10 minutes remaining Armitage’s penalty made it 22-22. Bourgoin hit straight back through Boyet’s drop goal and Nicolas picked off Mapusua’s pass to go under the posts before Irish’s late blitz came up short.

LONDON IRISH: D. Armitage, Ojo, Mapusua, Gower, Tagicakibau, Hewat, Richards, Murphy, Coetzee, Lea'aetoa, Kennedy, Hudson, Roche, S. Armitage, Thorpe. Replacements: Hodgson for Gower (53), Dermody for Murphy (57), Paice for Coetzee (57), Hala'ufia for Roche (61).

BOURGOIN: A. Forest, Coetzee, Janin, David, Coux, Boyet, Parra, Tchougong, J. Genevois, Wihongi, Levast, Basson, Leonte, Jooste, Labrit. Replacements:M. Nicolas for Coux (64), T. Genevois for Parra (79), Cardinali for Wihongi (27). Attendance:6,455.

Referee:P Allen (RFU).