Challenge Cup - Myler kicks Saints to trophy

Eurosport - Sat, 23 May 17:16:00 2009

Northampton won the European Challenge Cup after beating Bougoin-Jallieu 15-3 at The Stoop.

RUGBY 2009 European Challenge Cup Northampton Saints captain Bruce Reihana holds trophy - 0

Just a year after their return to the Guinness Premiership, Saints will be competing in next season's Heinieken Cup after Steven Myler's five penalty kicks were enough to defeat their French opponents, who could only manage one place-kick from Morgan Parra in reply.

The French side's vain hopes of a comeback evaporated completely when Thomas Genevois was sent off late on for punching Courtney Lawes.

Myler, the England Saxons fly-half, laid the foundations for Saints' triumph in a fiery contest containing numerous flashpoints.

Brawls erupted throughout the evening, the worst of which was when substitute Genevois landed a cheap shot on Lawes who was then attacked by a posse of Bourgoin players.

Genevois was given a red card for the punch with five minutes to go while Neil Best and Morgan Parra were shown yellow cards earlier as referee George Clancy was subjected to a difficult night.

Victory brought with it only Saints' second piece of major silverware and their first since winning the Heineken Cup in 2000, making them the third English club to complete the European double.

More importantly they have now qualified for next season's Heineken Cup, in the process ending Wasps' hopes of claiming a spot in the tournament through the back door.

Instead Bourgoin's French rivals Brive, who include England internationals Andy Goode, Steve Thompson, Riki Flutey and Jamie Noon in their ranks, will take the last remaining spot in Europe's premier club competition.

Bourgoin, battle hardened by Top 14 action over the last two weekends, clearly intended to soften up their opponents who had not played since beating Saracens in the semi-finals on May 1.

But Saints took everything thrown at them and kept the scoreboard ticking over through Myler, keeping their own discipline intact in the process.

The occasional flashes of brilliance in the first half made way for an attritional contest which looked beyond Bourgoin, conquerors of Worcester in the semis, heading into the final quarter.

Inspired by their rampaging props Arnaud Tchougong and Karena Wihongi, Bourgoin weathered a strong start by Saints and hit back with some thrilling play that created a half-chance for Jean-Francis Coux.

Amazingly the ubiquitous Tchougong, playing like an openside, was in support of the winger but the move broke down and two brawls erupted.

Play swept from end to end, Myler slotting a second penalty and then linking up nicely with the lively Paul Diggin to start another attack.

Bourgoin's France fly-half Benjamin Boyet used the up and under whenever possible but the tactic met with little reward.

Boyet's half-back partner Parra slotted a long-range penalty as the last 10 minutes of the first half became far tighter with the mounting tension sparking a large punch-up.

Best and Parra were judged to be the worst offenders by Clancy who brandished yellow cards to both players, but the ill-feeling clearly lingered.

Saints moved further ahead with a third Myler penalty and the second half started with some bulldozing runs by man of the match Dylan Hartley and Yann David.

As expected Bourgoin were dominating the scrum but Saints were masters in the loose, putting the visitors under pressure and winning a penalty which Myler converted.

The match was becoming increasingly attritional yet the chances to score were still falling Saints' way as Myler booted his fifth penalty with 10 minutes to go.

Bourgoin looked finished but they were determined to leave their mark on Saints, Genevois receiving his marching orders after blindsiding the hapless Lawes.

PA Sport

Comment 1 - 13 of 13

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  1. Fine Firstchoicepm, let the Heineken cup be called the­ British Isles Cup and stop this
    set-up against France­ that is required to give the Brits & Celts a chance­ to lift a European trophy...

    From Marc L, on Thu 28 May 7:18AM

  2. Gedeon watch the game again & the tackle on Parra­ wasnt a cheap shot he was already committed whilst he­ still had the ball in hand . French were disgaceful­ & if you do pull out of the Heineken cup then its­ not such a bad loss to be honest they were just making­ up the numbers this year anyway . Borgoin lost there­ discipline when they knew the game was slipping away­ & to blame the ref is a cop out they just­ wern't good enough

    From firstchoicepm, on Wed 27 May 6:05PM

  3. Avec un arbitrage impartial, les équipes Françaises­ gagneront toutes les coupes d'Europe et tous les­ Grands Chelems.....C'est peut-être ce qui fait peur­ aux Britaniques...
    Je pense sinçèrement que Norphomton­ était un peu plus fort sur son terrain....mais­ seulement avec un écart de trois points et puis, une­ finale gagnée sans essai, c'est gagné sans gloire !­ Et si le match avait eu lieu en France avec un arbitre­ Argentin, l'affaire aurait été toute autre...

    From Gilles L, on Mon 25 May 5:06PM

  4. I totally agree with Gilles L: France should step out­ of European competitions.
    The onbly problem is that it­ will deny UK teams and refs. the pleasure of­ "teaching these bloody frogs a lesson".

    From Marc L, on Mon 25 May 3:45PM

  5. Trop c'est trop, l'arbitrage Britannique­ pénalise beaucoup trop les équipes Françaises,­ c'est inadmissible !
    Que ce soit dans le tournois­ des six nations ou dans les coupes d'Europe.­ Pourquoi ne voit-on pas des arbitres Français,­ Artgentins, Italiens ? Ils ne sont pas plus mauvais que­ les autres au regard des divers arbitrages réalisés­ depuis ce début d'année, ils ont largement leur­ place !
    Peut-être aussi que ces arbitres Britanniques­ ont peur pour leurs équipes...C'est un peu comme­ une mère qui protégerait ses enfants...Les Clubs­ Français devront quitter les championnats Européens­ voir le six nations si cela ne change pas, cela en­ devient ridicule et flagrant. Pour exemple,­ l'arbitrage de la finale entre Norphampton et­ Bourgoin a été catastrophique, l'arbitre n'a­ pas pénalisé les faits les plus graves et les joueurs­ se sont fait justice...je passe les nombreuses­ pénalités non siflées contre Norphampton sur des­ ballons gardés au sol alors qu'elles étaient­ quasiment toutes siflées contre Bourgoin...Je­ n'insisterai pas sur le match volé entre Toulous et­ Cardif et les matchs de poule notemment avec le stade­ Français ou Montauban etc. Cela doit cesser pour que le­ Rugby entre nos quatre nations vivent.
    God save Rugby,­ please !

    From Gilles L, on Mon 25 May 9:18AM

  6. Game was a disgrace to Rugby Union-both sides equally­ to blame -Ref useless lost control early on good job­ is the last of this competition!

    From GEOFF S, on Sat 23 May 11:46PM

  7. Have you seen the same game? Blatant aggression by the­ Saints under the eyes of the ref. gone un-penalized.­
    The French teams should boycott the European cups and­ leave the Brits and Celts play the game they want­ without intrusion of "foreigners" such as­ France or Italy.

    From Marc L, on Sat 23 May 8:52AM

  8. Extremely well done to Northampton who have enjoyed a­ good season, as against Wasps who have had a poor­ season by their own high standards. A pity if the­ French were petulant on this occasion, because­ generally the Rugby played in France is of a high­ standard and played in a good spirit.

    From Suft 26, on Sat 23 May 7:52AM

  9. The spirit and discipline of the saints was superb.­ Rory best's left eye after a punch looked nasty,­ but he still played on and really well too. But we do­ have a superb pack, heightened by hartley's man of­ the match performance.

    Expect good things next season.­ Proud to be from Northamptonshire, proud to support the­ saints. Well played!

    From thewildcard44, on Sat 23 May 1:14AM

  10. You are right, French are so much a disgrace that up­ here EVERYBODY wants to drop from the Heineken­ Cup...
    Good article that did not even mention the late­ tacke of Mr Lawes on Parra... (no more shoulder, no­ more test match, good job Mr Lawes... THAT WAS A CHEAP­ SHOT)...
    Frankly the best thing that could happen right­ now, is a Heineken Cup between Irish, Scots, Welsh and­ English sides... no more french sides... anyway some of­ your best players are coming here so...

    From Gedeon, on Fri 22 May 11:05PM

  11. Well done Saints From A Tigers fan , French were a­ disgrace held your disciplne well, look forward to­ seeing a bit more of Courtney Lawes he looks a great­ prospct with an aggressive streak as well , Tomorrow­ Tigers will make it an English double in Europe

    From firstchoicepm, on Fri 22 May 10:23PM

  12. No6 should be cited for his punch

    From stuart.mccabe2, on Fri 22 May 10:15PM

  13. come on you saints

    From jc297, on Fri 22 May 3:01PM
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