European Challenge Cup: London Irish 26-17 Pau - Stokes double sets up bonus-point win
- Published
James Stokes got off the mark for the season with a first-half brace
European Challenge Cup |
|---|
London Irish (21) 26 |
Tries: Stokes 2, Cokanasiga, Parton Cons: Jackson 3 |
Pau (7) 17 |
Tries: Septar, Debaes Cons: Lebail, Debaes Pen: Lebail |
London Irish stayed top of their European Challenge Cup pool with a 26-17 bonus-point win over Pau.
James Stokes twice raced on to well-timed Paddy Jackson passes to cross either side of Atila Septar's score.
Phil Cokanasiga raced away for a superb solo try, with Jackson adding his third conversion to put the hosts 21-7 up at half-time.
Clovis Lebail's penalty cut the gap, but Tom Parton finished a flowing move before Thibault Debaes' late reply.
Pau responded well after Stokes' opening try, and after Septar collected a smart grubber kick to run in under the posts, the visitors penned Irish back, Lebail missing a long-range penalty attempt for the lead.
But Irish resisted the pressure well and responded with two quick tries, Stokes and Jackson combining for a carbon copy of their earlier score before Cokanasiga outpaced the Pau cover down the right touchline.
After Lebail's penalty, Irish turned the screw, winning three successive penalties in the Pau 22 before the French defence finally cracked - Parton sent racing away to the right corner for the bonus-point try after 49 minutes.
The Irish defence were immense, withstanding long spells of intense pressure deep inside their own 22 as Pau forced a succession of penalties, and looked to have held out until Debaes crossed under the posts late on.
Irish have won five of their past six meetings with Pau, and after their 34-8 win in Agen have a maximum 10 points from their opening two preliminary stage matches.
London Irish: Homer; Stokes, Rona, P Cokanasiga, Parton; Jackson, Phipps; Dell, Creevy, Chawatama, Nott, Mafi, Rogerson (capt), Cowan, Tuisue.
Replacements: Matu'u, Elrington, Green, Coleman, Munga, Englefield, Atkins, Meakes.
Pau: Le Gall; Barrett, Couchinave, Dumoulin, Septar; Debaes, Lebail; Odishvili, Barka, Corato, Marchois, Ramsay (capt), Tagitagivalu, Gunther, Ugena.
Replacements: Lespiaucq, Fisi'ihoi, Hamadache, Delannoy, Texier, Marques, Fumat, Votu.
Referee: Gianluca Gnecchi (FIR).
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