Problem Cup: Tub safe 37-12 victory over Lyon in ultimate as Sam Underhill avoids crimson card

Tries from Tom Dunn, Max Ojomoh, Beno Obano, Ben Spencer, along with the boot of Finn Russell noticed Tub to Problem Cup ultimate victory over Lyon; determination to indicate Tub’s Sam Underhill yellow card as an alternative of crimson for top sort out in twenty eighth minute proved controversial

Tub secured a 37-12 Problem Cup ultimate victory over Lyon in Cardiff on Friday, however solely after flanker Sam Underhill prevented a first-half crimson card. 

Hooker Tom Dunn, centre Max Ojomoh, prop Beno Obano and scrum-half Ben Spencer scored tries for the Premiership outfit on the Principality Stadium, whereas fly-half Finn Russell added 17 factors by way of his boot (three penalties, 4 conversions).

The foremost speaking level of the match proved the choice of referee Hollie Davidson – the primary lady to take cost of a European ultimate – to indicate Underhill solely yellow for a harmful head-on-head sort out on Lyon full-back Davit Niniashvili at tempo within the twenty eighth minute.

Tub wing Will Muir was additionally proven yellow within the opening interval for taking reverse quantity Ethan Dumortier out within the air – however the French aspect’s failure to take their probabilities in opposition to 13 and 14 gamers proved deadly as Tub kicked on to complete strongly.

Sam Underhill clattered into the top of Davit Niniashvili along with his personal head at tempo however prevented what appeared a transparent crimson card

Centre Max Ojomoh scored certainly one of 4 tries within the Tub victory

Lyon kicked off for the ultimate however have been instantly onto the entrance foot when Dumortier leapt excessive to faucet the ball again into the French aspect’s possession – the early assault solely ending when Underhill produced an excellent breakdown turnover.

Nonetheless, Lyon stored up their early stress, dumping Muir into contact simply outdoors the Tub 22, and inside moments, the primary strive arrived.

A lineout throw to the tail preceded an excellent maul drive, after which fast fingers from scrum-half Baptiste Couilloud and Niniashvili opened the house for Dumortier to dive over within the nook on three minutes.

Lyon wing Ethan Dumortier slid over for the opening strive in simply the third minute

Simply earlier than the conversion could possibly be taken, a TMO evaluate occurred however replays confirmed the end was inch excellent and Dumortier grounded the ball earlier than his foot slid into contact.

Leo Berdeu sliced the conversion large, and a stunning Russell 50:22 quickly had Tub attacking within the 22 as wing Vincent Rattez did not maintain it in play.

When Lyon lock Mickael Guillard was penalised for failing to roll away below his personal posts, Tub and Russell took the simple factors on supply to get onto the scoreboard.

Finn Russell kicked Tub’s first factors of the ultimate with a penalty and was excellent off the tee on the evening

A poor Muir kick out on the complete noticed Lyon again onto the assault, however it was Tub who subsequent got here closest to a strive after Dumortier knocked on in midfield: centre Will Butt slicing via for a line break and simply being stopped brief earlier than his offload was carried again by Lyon.

That defensive intervention handed Tub a scrum-five, however they appeared to have tousled the prospect when crossed wires between Russell and Muir noticed the ball land free, just for Couilloud to make the weird determination to kick the bouncing ball straight out earlier than it had left the aircraft of contact.

That allowed Tub to maintain attacking and Dunn to finally wrestle his method over from shut vary for his or her opening strive, with Russell changing for a 10-5 lead.

Tom Dunn wrestled his method over for Tub’s opening strive on 20 minutes

One other Tub 50:22 – by Spencer this time – had the Premiership outfit again within the 22 shortly after, they usually took ruthless benefit when Ojomoh twisted and flew over on penalty benefit off an extended Spencer go.

Russell transformed fantastically for a 17-5 lead on 25 minutes, however Underhill was then extraordinarily lucky to keep away from a crimson card after driving his head into Niniashvili’s at tempo whereas stood upright – Davidson brandishing solely yellow.

To compound Lyon’s frustration, the official then penalised them on the maul straight after for obstruction, permitting Tub to clear.

Hollie Davidson grew to become the primary lady to referee a European ultimate

Tub have been diminished to 13 when Muir upended Dumortier below a excessive ball in a transparent sin-binning, and Lyon seemingly took full benefit when Dumortier dived over below the posts after a neat lineout transfer. The rating was dominated out, nevertheless, when flanker Dylan Cretin was penalised for obstruction after evaluate.

Underhill returned from his yellow card with the rating unchanged, earlier than Lyon failed to attain regardless of big tryline stress earlier than the top of the half.

Will Muir was sin-binned for taking Dumortier out within the air, decreasing Tub to 13 for a interval

Into the second half, an early offside name in opposition to Lyon noticed Russell stretch the result in 20-5 and three scores, however Lyon hit again shortly via highly effective No 8 Arno Botha simply earlier than Muir returned to revive Tub to the complete complement.

Berdeu transformed to carry Lyon inside eight factors, however a spell of Tub stress within the 22 finally introduced their third strive via Obano with fellow prop Thomas du Toit latched on, restoring daylight on the scoreboard at 27-12.

Lyon appeared a overwhelmed aspect and out of solutions on the hour mark, responding to an enormous Tub error in full-back Tom de Glanville kicking the ball lifeless from his personal half by kicking out on the complete enjoying off the resultant scrum.

On 63 minutes, the excellent Spencer slid over to verify victory after a pacy De Glanville break break up the Lyon defensive position aside.

Scrum-half Ben Spencer made certain of victory when he acquired over for Tub’s fourth strive

Russell drove over three extra factors with eight minutes to play, and Lyon had nothing left to reply with.

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