Sport

Borders salvage pride but ultimately fall short

Biarritz - 27 Borders - 17: Borders went within a whisker of creating the biggest ever Heineken Cup shock as they salvaged pride…

Mon Dec 18 2006 - 00:00

Biarritz - 27 Borders - 17:Borders went within a whisker of creating the biggest ever Heineken Cup shock as they salvaged pride in France.

Even the most ardent of Reivers followers had been geared up for a merciless thumping at the hands of the tournament co-favourites.

But with just three minutes left and the scores locked at 17-all, they sensed the possibility of a sensational outcome.

However, two touches of brilliance by substitute Dimitri Yachvili sparked the last-gasp try double for powerhouse Sireli Bobo that smothered the gutsy challenge of the Scots.

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As expected, Biarritz had the bulk of possession and territory in the early stages, but they looked strangely jittery, disjointed and error-prone.

Having weathered the early storm, the Scots were handed a penalty opportunity at the other end for handling in a ruck, but Calum MacRae's angled effort drifted past the near post.

The reprieve seemed to act as a wake-up call for Biarritz - and they broke the deadlock immediately after the drop-out, outhalf Damien Traille scorching through a gap to touch down, brushing off Gregor Townsend's weak tackle in the process. Julien Dupuy slotted the conversion to give his side some breathing space.

They led 17-3 at half-time;MacRae's penalty was the visitors' only reply.

But the stadium was stunned into silence when the Reivers blew the contest wide open with two touchdowns after the restart, firstly from lock Opeta Palepoi, then MacRae, before the dream perished late on.

BIARRITZ: Dambielle; Gobelet, Bosch, Masi, Bobo; Traille, Dupuy; Lecouls, Balan, Noirot; Dellape, Couzinet; Betsen, Dridi, Lievremont. Replacements: Bidabe for Gobelet (29 mins), Avril for Lecouls (31 mins), Peyrelongue for Masi (61 mins), August for Noirot, Malonga for Dridi (both 66 mins), Harinordoquy for Lievremont (74 mins), Yachvili for Dupuy (76 mins). Sinbinned: Betsen (45 mins), Avril (52 mins).

BORDERS: MacRae; Law, De Luca, Rennie, Daniel; Townsend, Chrystie; Kerr, Scott, Kalman; Grimes, Palepoi; Gray, Miller, Brown. Replacements: McKerchar for Chrystie (40 mins), Ford for Scott, Douglas for Kalman (both 77 mins). Sinbinned: Miller (45).

Referee: D Courtney (Ireland).