European Challenge Cup: Cardiff slump in Brive to lose home rights

Rhys Priestland scored 14 of Cardiff Rugby's 24 points

Cardiff ended their Challenge Cup group on a downbeat note as they lost 37-24 in Brive to miss out on a top-two place.

They came from 20-3 down to lead 24-23 with tries from James Botham, Rhys Priestland and Jason Harries.

But Brive added two further converted tries to earn themselves a last-16 visit to Scarlets.

Cardiff are home to Sale Sharks in the last 16, but missed out on further potential home ties..

Rivals Toulon and Glasgow dropped points the previous evening, making it even more frustrating that the Welsh side leaked five tries after only conceding two in their first three games.

Cardiff were boosted by the return of Wales full back Liam Williams after concussion as well as scrum-half Tomos Williams, captaining the side for the first time.

But after an early Priestland penalty, little went right for lacklustre Cardiff in a first half which saw them barely fire a shot in attack.

In contrast Brive enjoyed plenty of pressure with Samoan hooker Motu Matu'u rumbling over from a lineout after 11 minutes.

Full-back Mathis Ferte crossed on the overlap after 20 minutes as they went wide from another attacking lineout.

And Haitian winger Kevin Fabien raced onto a Nicolas Sanchez grubber kick to score a third try for the hosts in the opening 40 minutes.

Liam Williams gave Wales a scare by departing with a bloodied hand injury, but returned after 15 minutes treatment to find his side trailing 17-3 at the interval.

Sanchez knocked over an easy penalty just after the break but Cardiff finally sprung into life as Botham crossed from a Rhys Carre break and Priestland went over on the blindside of a driving maul, with the fly-half converting both scores to make it 20-17 after 48 minutes.

Brive lost Sanchez to a head knock but replacement Enzo Herve kicked a simple penalty when Cardiff's Wales squad lock Teddy Williams suffered a head injury and a yellow card at the same time after an awkward tackle.

The 14-man visitors snatched the lead with a Harries touchdown from Mason Grady's break, again improved by Priestland from wide out, but their advantage did not last long.

Home wing Arthur Bonneval, newly recruited from Toulouse, crossed after Fijian centres Setareke Bituniyata and Setariki Tuicuvu tore the Cardiff defence apart.

And soon after English replacement Wesley Douglas sprinted over from Ferte's break to make it a 13-point gap going into the final quarter of an hour.

Aled Summerhill touched down for Cardiff only to be recalled with both previous passes ruled forward, and the last move of the match saw Lloyd Williams lose the ball a metre short of the line as he dived for a score which could have earned them two match points and taken them back ahead of second-placed Glasgow.

Brive: Mathis Ferte; Arthur Bonneval, Setariki Tuicuvu, Setareki Bituniyata, Kevin Fabien; Nicolas Sanchez, Enzo Sanga; Wesley Tapueluelu, Motu Matu'u, Francisco Coria Marchetti, Julien Delannoy, Lucas Paulos, Tevita Ratuva, Said Hireche (capt), Retief Marais

Replacements: Nathan Fraissenon, Daniel Brennan, Tietie Tuimauga, Oskar Rixen, Sasha Gue, Leo Carbonneau, Enzo Herve, Wesley Douglas.

Cardiff: Liam Williams; Aled Summerhill, Mason Grady, Ben Thomas, Jason Harries; Rhys Priestland, Tomos Williams (capt); Rhys Carré, Kirby Myhill, Keiron Assiratti, Lopeti Timani, Teddy Williams, James Botham, Ellis Jenkins, James Ratti

Replacements: Efan Daniel, Brad Thyer, Will Davies-King, Rory Thornton, Seb Davies, Shane Lewis-Hughes, Lloyd Williams, Jarrod Evans

Referee: Anthony Woodthorpe (England)

Assistant referees: George Selwood & James Clarke (England)

TMO: David Rose (England)