Bristol out of Europe after agonising loss at Clermont

Pool 2 of the Investec Champions Cup

Clermont Auvergne 33 (12)

Tries: Newsome, Raka 2, penalty, Ceyte Cons: Belleau 2, Urdapilleta

Bristol 26 (0)

After Clermont Auvergne won the dramatic 33-26 Champions Cup match in the sixth minute of overtime, Bristol are now out of all European competitions.

In a stunning second half, Pat Lam’s side had excellent defense, but Thomas Ceyte was forced to equalize for the visitors.

Bristol won only one of their group games, so they only received two bonus points, falling to the bottom of Pool 2 where they had already started the day.

Leinster defeated West-coast rivals Bath 47-21, but they will return to action in the Challenge Cup after finishing fifth overall.

After Clermont scores from Fijian powerhouse Alivereti Raka and Australian wing Alex Newsome, the Bears led 12-0 at half-time.

Bristol was reinstated after a penalty try, which sent Etienne Falgoux to the sin-bin, but the formidable Raka smashed his way through three tackles to restore Clermont’s two-try lead.

Lam brought on Kalaveti Ravouvou, Viliame Mata and Harry Thacker, who all impressed in last week’s win over Benetton, in a bid to revive his team’s hopes.

The Bears scored 19-19 with a man scored after James Dun touched down at the bottom of a maul before Noah Heward skillfully circled his man to finish off a strong attacking move.

When Bears skipper Fitz Harding collapsed a maul, the momentum picked up again as the Top 14 team was given a penalty try.

Following a clever passing move, the Premiership side rallied and Kieran Marmion dived over in the corner. The score was 26-26 with Harry Byrne’s nerveless kick from the right touchline leveling the score.

Replacements: Falgoux, Massa, Ojovan, Ceyte, Fischer, Bezy, Urdapilleta, Tauzin.

Bristol Bears: Lane, Heward, Jenkins, Van Rensburg, Bailey, Byrne, Randall, Genge, Oghre, Kloska, Dun, Owen, Luatua, Grondona, Harding (capt).

Replacements: Thacker, Thomas, Lahiff, Barker, Mata, Marmion, Ravouvou, Elizalde.