Saracens through despite loss

Saracens qualified for the quarter-finals of the European Champions Cup despite going down 18-6 against Clermont at Stade Marcel-Michelin on Sunday.

Last season's beaten finalists progressed as one of the highest-placed runners-up, although their route to another European final will be a tough one, starting with a trip to Racing Métro in the quarter-finals.

Saracens, captained by Springbok lock Alistair Hargreaves, were outmuscled on the day as Clermont scored two tries to nil.

Meanwhile, Bath secured their place in the quarter-finals with a 20-15 win against a stubborn Glasgow Warriors outfit. The high-flying English club trailed 7-6 at half-time, but two penalty tries in the second half broke the Scottish resistance as they avenged the shock loss they suffered earlier in the tournament.

Bath's victory sees four English Premiership clubs making the quarter-finals for the first time since 1998.

In Sunday's other results, Jake White's Montpellier picked up their first win of the competition, ending Toulouse's hopes of progressing with a narrow 27-26 victory, while Simon Zebo bagged a brace as Munster put 65 points on Sale in their dead rubber match.

Sunday results:

Montpellier 27 Toulouse 26
Bath 20 Glasgow Warriors 15
Clermont Auvergne 18 Saracens 6
Munster 65 Sale 10

Saturday results:

Wasps 20 Leinster  20
Castres 19 Harlequins 17
Benetton Treviso 23 Neath-Swansea Ospreys 20
Northampton Saints 8 Racing Métro 32
Llanelli Scarlets 3 Toulon 26
Ulster 26 Leicester Tigers 7

Quarter-final fixtures:

Racing Métro vs Saracens
Toulon vs Wasps
Clermont vs Northampton Saints
Leinster vs Bath

Photo: Jamie McDonald/Getty Images