Bourgoin (3) 22
Try: Basson Con: Parra Pens: Parra 4 Drop: Boyet
Worcester (6) 11
Try: Benjamin Pens: Carlisle 2

Worcester were aiming for their second straight Challenge Cup final

Bourgoin overcame Worcester to reach the final of the European Challenge Cup where they will meet Northampton.

The scoring was dominated by penalties until the 62nd minute when Bourgoin's Coenie Basson went over for a try.

Miles Benjamin touched down for the Premiership club in the 79th minute, but it was only a consolation.

Joe Carlisle, who missed the conversion for Worcester, kicked two penalties to give the visitors a 3-6 half-time lead, but Bourgoin dominated the second half.

The French side, who caused a shock in the quarter-final by beating tournament favourites London Irish, produced another excellent performance at Stade Pierre Rajon to keep alive their hopes of winning back a title they last claimed in 1997.

Bourgoin controlled the early possession and they took the lead on nine minutes through scrum-half Morgan Parra.

The hosts nearly extended their slender lead in the 11th minute but the television official spotted that full-back Florian Denos failed to ground the ball.

Despite Bourgoin's pressure, it was Worcester who came closest to scoring the first try but hooker Aleki Lutui was held up by Parra and Benjamin Boyet.

The visitors levelled the tie in the 28th minute through Carlisle's close-range penalty before the fly-half added a second from just inside his own half.

Bourgoin dictated play after the break and sealed the win with 19 unanswered points.

Parra fired over three penalties in the opening 17 minutes while Boyet added a superb 47-metre drop goal.

Bourgoin completed victory when lock Basson touched down in the left corner after excellent approach play by Rudi Coetzee while Parra added the conversion.

Benjamin grabbed a late score for Worcester but it was too little too late.

Worcester captain Pat Sanderson:
"We had opportunities but we didn't take them. We spoke about it at half-time and said we would create another chance.

"The injuries didn't help us. We had players playing out of position in the front row and that showed in the first half.

"But credit to them for playing out of position and hanging in there. There's no criticism level towards them because Bourgoin were excellent in that area and made their dominance tell. We've got no excuses."

Bourgoin: Denos; Janin, Viazzo, David, Coetzee; Boyet, Parra; Tchougong, Genevois, Wihongi, Basson, Levast, Frier (capt), Jooste, Labrit.
Replacements: Vigneaux, Cardinali, Genevois, Nicolas, M Forest, A Forest, Laloo.

Worcester: Gear; Fellows, Grove, Rasmussen, Benjamin; Carlisle, R Powell; Black, Lutui, Morris, Rawlinson, Kitchener, Wood, Sanderson (c), Talei.
Replacements: Ruwers, Fortey, Bowley, Collins, M Powell, King, Penn.

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