Exeter through, Clermont out

The Exeter Chiefs beat the Ospreys 33-17 in their European Champions Cup match on Sunday, while there were also wins for Bordeaux-Bègles, Stade Français and Munster.

Exeter needed a bonus-point win at Sandy Park to give themselves a chance of progressing to the quarter-finals, and the other fixture in Pool 2, between Clermont and Bordeaux-Bègles, to go their way.

Exeter took an early lead through flanker Kai Horstmann’s converted try before Ospreys winger Hanno Dirksen scored five minutes later. No 8 Thomas Waldrom immediately regained the lead for the hosts, who led 14-7 at half-time.

Ospreys flyhalf Dan Biggar slotted a penalty shortly after the break, but two tries from Chiefs winger James Short gave his side the four-try bonus point.

Waldrom secured the win, and ended the Ospreys' hopes of getting the losing bonus point they needed to progress to the next round, when he went over for his second try in the 78th minute.

At the Stade Marcel-Michelin, Clermont squandered their chance to advance from Pool 2 when scrumhalf Morgan Parra opted for a quick-tap penalty in front of the posts in the final minute of the match instead of taking a shot at goal when his team trailed 37-28.

The three points would have given them a losing bonus point, which they knew was all they needed from the match to go through to the quarter-finals on points difference.

Clermont raced into an early 14-0 lead before Bordeaux fought their way back to lead 17-14 at half-time. The hosts regained their two-try advantage after 63 minutes and again Bordeaux hit back with two of their own to take a six-point lead with six minutes to go before replacement flyhalf Pierre Bernard sealed the win with a penalty three minutes from time.

Meanwhile, Stade Français secured a quarter-final place when they claimed a 36-21 bonus-point win against the Leicester Tigers 36-21 in Paris. The hosts scored three tries in 11 minutes to take a 19-7 lead into half-time and secured the bonus point in the 53rd minute against 14 men.

In Sunday's other match, Munster thumped Treviso 28-5 at the Stadio Comunale di Monigoto to end their Champions Cup season on a high. The visitors led 14-0 lead after 16 minutes and scored another two converted tries in the second half to leave Treviso winless.

Sunday's results:

Treviso 5 Munster 28
Stade Français 36 Leicester Tigers 21
Exeter Chiefs 33 Ospreys 17
Clermont 28 Bordeaux-Bègles 37

Champions Cup quarter-finals:

Saracens vs Northampton Saints
Wasps vs Exeter Chiefs
Racing 92 vs Toulon
Leicester Tigers vs Stade Français

Photo: Stu Foster/Getty Images