Bourgoin 19-34 Exeter

Bourgoin (5) 19
Tries: Bougherara, Va'aulu, Nadolo Cons: Viazzo 2

Exeter (26) 34
Tries: Rennie, Thomas, Foster Cons: Steenson 2 Pens: Steenson 4

Exeter earned a first European victory with a 34-19 win in an ill-tempered Challenge Cup game at Bourgoin.

Gareth Steenson put the Chiefs 6-0 up before Karim Bougharara went over for the hosts and Steenson struck again.

Bryan Rennie and Haydn Thomas crossed for Exeter - both converted by Steenson - ahead of another Exeter penalty.

Brando Va'aulu scored Bourgoin's second at the start of the second half but Exeter hit back through Mark Foster before Nemani Nadolo's consolation try.

Exeter took the game to their hosts from the off and their solid set piece more than matched Bourgoin's physical forwards.

After Steenson had kicked the visitors to a 6-0 lead it was the hosts' pick-and-drive that provided the first real opening.

Referee James Jones initially ruled the ball had been held up but after consulting his touch judge awarded debutant Bougharara the try.

Bourgoin were ruled to be off their feet at the ruck shortly after the restart and Steenson stroked home his penalty from 30m out to give Exeter a 9-5 lead.

The home side began to build pressure - largely through the Chiefs poor kicking - but they spilled the ball in one foray and Exeter worked it wide to Rennie who weaved his way to the line. Steenson's extras made it 16-5 with a quarter of the game gone.

Thomas was next to pounce as a Bourgoin scrum wheeled and as the ball popped out the Chiefs srum-half gathered to scoot into the corner from 40m.

Two more kicks from Steenson made it 26-5 at the turnaround.

Three well worked phases by Bourgoin from the kick off put Va'aulu in and Matias Viazzo converted the try.

As in the first half the home side conceded a penalty straight after the try and Steenson made it 29-12.

With the game slipping away from Bourgoin tempers flared and the crowd vented their frustration when Steenson's penalty was given touch when it appeared to have landed in touch-and-goal.

Things got worse when the resulting line-out lead to Foster's try to make it 34-12.

Nadolo and Exeter number eight Richard Baxter were sent to the sin-bin as the officials tried to regain control and it was the Fijian wing who rounded off the evening when he returned to score a late consolation try.

Bourgoin: Moinot; Va'aulu, Viazzo, Janin, Nasiganiyavi; Laloo, Forest (capt); Iapteff, Kopelani, Bougherara, Genevois, Levast, Cowley, Tulou, Labrit.

Replacements: Tian for Janin (59), Van Zyl for Laloo (23), Gondrand for M. Forest (59), Pelo for Iapteff (40), Janaudy for Kopelani (63), Charlet for Bougharara (47), Jooste for Cowley (40).

Sin Bin: Nadolo (57).

Exeter: Arscott; Higgins, Dollman, Rennie, Foster; Steenson, Thomas; Sturgess, Clark, Budgen, Hayes (capt), Hanks, Johnson, Scaysbrook, Baxter.

Replacements: Jess for Dollman (78), Sestaret for Rennie (62), Cowley for Thomas (73), Whitehead for Clark (63), Elosu for Budgen (73), Slade for Scaysbrook (65), Gannon for Baxter (71).

Sin Bin: Baxter (60).

Referee: James Jones (Wales)

Att: 8,546