Oyonnax knock French rivals Brive out of Challenge Cup

Oyonnax prevailed 22-17 in a tight affair with Brive to knock their French rivals out of the Challenge Cup.

Two tries in the first 15 minutes helped the hosts to victory at the Stade Charles-Mathon and put them out of reach of bottom-placed Brive in Pool Five.

Roimata Hansell-Pune crossed the line for Oyonnax on nine minutes, and Gregory Bernard soon followed suit, with Regis Lespinas this time adding the extras.

Kieran Murphy responded with a converted Brive try on 25 minutes to make the scores 12-7, and penalties were exchanged as Oyonnax maintained their five-point lead at the break.

They soon extended their cushion after the restart as Mark Ngauamo touched down for their third try of the evening, only for Brive to again respond as Riaan Swanepoel converted Karlen Asieshvili's 47th-minute effort.

The visitors could not eat further into the deficit as Oyonnax hung on for a third win in four of the campaign. It takes them onto 10 points, with Brive nine adrift and only two group-stage games remaining.