Bristol all but out 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 match 33-26 in the sixth minute of overtime, Bristol are all but eliminated from the Champions Cup.

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

Bristol, who only won one of their four matches, earned two bonus points, but are currently at the bottom of Pool 2.

If neither Bath nor Benetton suffer significant defeats in their later on Saturday matches, they will almost certainly miss out on one of the four places in the last 16.

And given their points difference, it looks beyond them to qualify for the Challenge Cup for fifth place.

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.