Bordeaux Begles beat Lyon OU in thriller

Bordeaux Begles picked up their fourth win in the European Challenge Cup with a thrilling 37-29 victory over French rivals Lyon OU.

Lyon were in front early on when Mosese Ratuvou spotted a gap to score a try, but Bordeaux hit back with a converted try of their own thanks to Matt Graham, who forced past a couple of challenges to reach the line.

Lionel Beauxis followed his conversion by handing Bordeaux the lead with a confidently-taken penalty.

The visitors responded well to the setback with a try from Thibaut Regard, but another penalty from Beauxis allowed Bordeaux to earn breathing space again.

After Lyon full-back Jerome Porical had split the posts with a penalty, Bordeaux took control of the contest.

Romain Lonca stormed over before Laurent Delboulbes added another try, but Beauxis could only add a conversion following the first.

Two penalties in the latter stages of the first half from Porical sent Lyon into the break trailing the hosts 25-23.

Despite going behind after the interval when Porical converted another penalty, Bordeaux looked comfortable for much of the second half as Lonca put the home side back in front with a fine individual try.

Porical continued an impressive night with the boot by reducing the deficit once again, but Bordeaux pulled away in the closing stages with a converted try from Thibault Lacroix.