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Newcastle suffer Challenge Cup defeat, Ospreys soar on enemy territory
By PA
Newcastle launched their European Challenge Cup Pool Two campaign with a 32-19 defeat in Pau after taking the lead three times.
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Ollie Fletcher’s two tries, the first of which was converted by Kieran Wilkinson, had the visitors 7-3 and 12-11 ahead at the Stade de Hameau.
Freddie Lockwood also crossed on the hour – despite Falcons wing Ben Stevenson being in the sin bin at the time – with Brett Connon’s conversion making it 19-18 to Newcastle, but they could not hold on in the south of France.
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Tries from Aaron Grandidier Nkanang, Jimi Maximin, Youri Delhommel and Eliott Roudil, coupled with 12 points from the boot of Axel Desperes, ultimately saw the hosts across the line.
Dan Edwards’ late try sealed a 30-14 victory for Pool Two rivals Ospreys over the Lions at Parc y Scarlets.
Jac Morgan, Keelan Giles and Kieran Hardy had crossed earlier with Owen Williams kicking 10 points to ensure converted tries from Lions duo Franco Marais and Erich Cronje counted for little.
In Pool One, Antoine Aucagne’s late penalty dragged Perpignan back from the brink of defeat against the Cheetahs in Amsterdam as he ensured the game ended 20-20. Jeandre Rudolph, Louis van der Westhuizen and Daniel Maartens went over for the South African outfit and Aucagne, Seta Toganiyadrava and Job Poulet for the French side.
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