Quins rise to the Challenge
A try four minutes from time from Gonzalo Camacho helped Harlequins to a 19-18 victory over Stade Francais in the Amlin Challenge Cup final.
Last Updated: 20/05/11 11:28pm
A try four minutes from time from Gonzalo Camacho helped Harlequins to a 19-18 victory over Stade Francais in the Amlin Challenge Cup final in Cardiff.
Nick Evans still needed to kick the conversion from the touchline but the New Zealander held his nerve to earn the London side their third Challenge Cup triumph and a place in next season's Heineken Cup.
Lionel Beauxis kicked four penalties for Stade and Mathieu Bastareaud and Martin Rodriguez kicked two drop-goals, but the French side have still not scored a try in three European final appearances.
Evans and Beauxis each kicked a penalty in the opening exchanges and Evans nudged Quins in front once more following a powerful burst up the centre from prop James Johnston.
The Londoners were having the better of it and looked to press home their advantage by putting a close-range penalty into the corner after Stade were caught offside.
That gamble failed but moments later Djibril Camara slapped down a pass illegally and Evans this time kicked the penalty.
Julien Dupuy almost created a try for Stade only for Mike Brown to clean up his grubber kick, while Danny Care's quick tap and burst threatened at the other end, but Stade had the final word of the half through Beauxis' boot as they went in just 9-6 behind.
Dominated
The French side completely dominated the second half and after Nick Easter followed up a loose pass by coming in at the side, Beauxis levelled the scores.
Stade continued to press and Bastareaud knocked over a neat drop-goal.
Beauxis then missed one as decent field position went to waste, although he quickly made amends with a kick off the tee after Stade's scrum forced a penalty.
Evans missed a straightforward chance to cut the deficit but then on 65 minutes he found the target to set up a thrilling finale.
Rodriguez' outrageous drop-goal from out wide on the 10 metre line looked to have settled it in the French side's favour but Quins still believed.
They drove deep into Stade territory and when Care chipped through the ball sat up perfectly for Camacho to score and Evans did the rest.
