Edinburgh (5) 33 |
Attempt: Watson, Curry, Verakott 2, Van der Merwe Cons: healy 4 |
Bayonne (7) 15 |
Attempt: spring 2 Cons: spring pen: spring |
Edinburgh defeated Bayonne with five tries to advance to the quarter-finals of the European Challenge Cup.
Hamish Watson crossed to put the hosts back up 7-5 at half-time.
Matt Currie's Edinburgh try sparked another spring, before Ben Verracott's brace and Duane van der Merwe's one gave the home side a win.
Sean Everitt's side will face either the Sharks or Zebre in the quarter-finals, with the latter two teams facing off in South Africa on Sunday.
Edinburgh conceded an early goal due to Jamie Ritchie's mishandling after his flanker ran in on Ben Healy's dink kick.
Bayonne started from a lineout and Spring broke the deadlock by shimmying down the side and crossing the line before converting himself.
Later, in Edinburgh, Watson was driven over and sat on the ground. Healy's conversion attempts were extensive.
Bayonne's lead lasted until the second half, but a powerful burst from Curry put the hosts in front for the first time, and Healy scored.
The French side reversed Edinburgh with a spring penalty, with the fly-half speeding clear and firing it over the left corner for their second try, but they were unable to add on the conversion.
Bellacott brought Edinburgh back in front, weaving one way and then the other before passing under the posts to mark his return to action. Jan Lestrade's challenge to stop Verakot caught the scrum-half's head and Lestrade was sent to the sin bin before Healy could convert.
The home team took the advantage with another grounder from the ruck by Veracott and another by Healy.
With an 11-point lead, Edinburgh called for a fifth try to put the result beyond doubt and Van der Merwe contributed with a touchdown into the left corner. Healy kicked well from wide and led his team to 33 points.
Bayonne needed two goals to have a chance of recovering, but there was little sign of them beating Edinburgh again in the closing stages.
Edinburgh flanker Hamish Watson “It was pretty rough for the first 20 minutes, we found it difficult to defend them early on,” said Viarprey. “It's completely to their credit that they came out to play. The forwards played really well up front. “They showed us what they could do there.” ”
Edinburgh: Goossen, Henry, Bennett, Currie, van der Merwe, Healy, Veracott, de Bruin, Ashman, Nel, Skinner, Gilchrist, Ritchie, Watson, Mata.
Replacement: Dean of Henley (74), Lang of Bennett (62), Price of Bellacott (65), Jones of De Bruin (75), Cherry of Ashman (57), Ray of Nell (66), Hodgson of Gilchrist ( 65), Crosby for Watson (58).
Bayonne: Calandret, Poulaii, Martock, Lestrade, Megdu, Spring, Rouet, Bethune, Giudicelli, Scholz, Seite, Reindekar Virginio, Bourdeau, Heggie, Arisseta.
Replacement: Dolhagaray is Calandret (59), Brillalua is Lestrade (64), Lababe is Rouet (59), Castillon is Bethune (50), Acquire is Giudicelli (50), Villars is Scholz (64), K. Mikautadze Line decal Virginio (50)), Huguet for Hegi (70). Sin Bin: Lestrade (53).