Edinburgh and Ospreys among winners as home teams continue Challenge Cup sweep

Planet Rugby
Duhan van der Merwe for Edinburgh against Bayonne.

Duhan van der Merwe for Edinburgh against Bayonne.

Duhan van der Merwe was among the try scorers for Edinburgh as they beat Bayonne 33-15 at Hive Stadium to progress to the European Challenge Cup quarter-finals.

Hamish Watson, Matt Currie and a Ben Vellacott brace provided the other crossings for Edinburgh as they now await the winner of Sunday’s Sharks v Zebre Parma meeting.

Tom Spring scored two tries of his own to go with five points off the tee as Bayonne’s European campaign was brought to a conclusion by Sean Everitt’s outfit on Saturday.

Click here for teams and scorers

The French side struck first through Spring’s converted try before Edinburgh hit back when Watson crossed the whitewash to leave the hosts trailing by two at half-time.

Currie edged Edinburgh ahead but Spring hit back with another to keep Bayonne in it.

But Vellacott crossed twice and a further try from Van der Merwe completed the scoring for the Scots in front of their fans.

Elsewhere, Ospreys roared into the Challenge Cup quarter-finals with a gritty 23-15 victory over Sale Sharks at Brewery Field.

Tries from Morgan Morris, Keelan Giles and Reuben Morgan-Williams were enough to send the hosts through, with Owen Williams kicking a conversion and two penalties.

Sale responded with second-half tries by Tom O’Flaherty and Ben Curry as well as the boot of Robert du Preez, who landed a conversion and a penalty.

But Ospreys held on to book a last-eight showdown with Gloucester at Kingsholm on Friday.

Clermont edge out Cheetahs

In the early game, Clermont Auvergne held off a fightback from the Cheetahs to win 27-22 at Stade Marcel Michelin.

Tries from Joris Jurand, Bautista Delguy, Etienne Fourcade and Baptiste Jauneau put the hosts 27-3 up but a Sibabalo Qoma brace and a solo effort from Tapiwa Mafura set up a tense finish.

Benetton are also through after beating the Lions 27-17 in Treviso.

Thomas Gallo, Onisi Ratave and Bautista Bernasconi scored the tries, all of which were converted by Jacob Umaga.

READ MORE: Gloucester survive late scare against Castres to secure Challenge Cup quarter-final spot

YOU MAY ALSO LIKE