Newcastle snatch win in Lyon with late double

EPCR Challenge Cup Pool Two

Lyon (7) 14

Tries: Mathiron, Shvangiradze Cons: Jackson 2

Newcastle Red Bulls (13) 23

Tries: Obatoyinbo, Christie, Spencer Cons: Connon Pens: Connon 2

Late tries by Tom Christie and Oli Spencer launched Newcastle’s Challenge Cup campaign with a hard-fought victory against last year’s runners-up Lyon.

The Red Bulls led 13-7 at half-time through Harrison Obatoyinbo’s early score and a brace of Brett Connon penalties, with Arthur Mathiron responding for the French club.

However, Beka Shvangiradze crossed to give Lyon the lead and the visitors’ task was made harder after number eight Amanaki Mafi was sent to the sin-bin.

But Christie’s first try in a Newcastle shirt put the 14 men back in front 10 minutes from time and Ollie Fletcher set up Spencer to seal the win with a third try.

Controlling possession from the first whistle, the Red Bulls won an early penalty and Connon’s kick led to a maul in the corner, with Obatoyinbo snatching the ball and diving over to open the scoring.

Lyon levelled with their first incursion into the visitors’ 22 as Paddy Jackson’s well-placed chip over the top was gobbled up by pacy winger Mathiron and the Irishman added the extras.

However, Newcastle continued to dominate on the ground, with Mafi winning a couple of turnovers and Connon’s pinpoint kicking put his side back in front with a penalty from 25 metres out.

Despite a rare spell of Lyon pressure, George McGuigan’s break earned another penalty for the Red Bulls and Connon kept his cool again, slotting between the posts from out wide to make it 13-7 at the turnaround.

But Newcastle’s advantage was wiped out within minutes of the restart when Mathiron’s deft offload released back rower Shvangiradze to go over and Jackson’s conversion put the French side in front for the first time.

The Red Bulls almost hit back after opting for a scrum five metres out and Tom Gordon eventually burst through the crowd to dive over – but his score was ruled out when referee Morne Ferreira sent the decision upstairs.

With Mafi yellow-carded for a foul on Shvangiradze, Newcastle’s hopes seemed to be fading until Connon sent another penalty to the left-hand corner and flanker Christie, signed from Crusaders last month, forced his way over from the back of the maul.

Five minutes later, Spencer collected Fletcher’s offload to stretch the Red Bulls’ lead further and, although Connon missed both conversions, it made little difference.

Newcastle, who remain without a point in the Premiership this season, continue their European campaign next Saturday when they host Johannesburg Lions.

Lyon: Meliande, Mathiron, Regard, Maraku, Dumortier, Jackson, Couilloud, Moukoro, Sarragallet, Gomes, Geraci, Roux, Okuya, Shvangiradze, Baret.

Replacements: Marchant, Rey, Maalo, Sanson, Gouzou, Cassang, Masi, Parisien.

Newcastle Red Bulls: Chamberlain, Spencer, Hearle, Grayson, Obatoyinbo, Connon, Stuart, Brocklebank, McGuigan, McCallum, Usher, Hodgson, Gordon, Christie, Mafi.

Replacements: Fletcher, Hancock, Rewcastle, Baker, Neild, Cruz, Hutchison, Coetzee.

Referee: Morne Ferreira