Amlin Challenge Cup: London Irish claim 20-14 Pool One victory over Mont de Marsan
London Irish kept alive their slim hopes of reaching the Challenge Cup quarter-finals with victory over Mont de Marsan.
Last Updated: 11/01/13 8:13am
Scrum-half Jack Moates crossed twice for the Exiles, who closed the gap on Pool One leaders Gloucester to three points with the win.
Irish built on last week's shock Aviva Premiership win at Kingsholm as scrum-half Moates crossed in each half in difficult conditions at the Stade Guy Boniface but Pool leaders Gloucester will still knock Irish out of the competition if they win at bottom side Bordeaux-Begles on Friday night.
Moates' first try came when he spotted a gap around the fringes after strong work from his pack after 26 minutes, while the 20-year-old's second was a result of Matt Garvey's charge down six minutes after the interval.
The latter score pushed Irish 17-0 in front after Steven Shingler had slotted his second conversion to go with a 13th-minute penalty as the visitors took control on French soil.
Centre Simon Lucu kept things interesting with a try converted by Thibault Duvallet after 54 minutes but Shingler made it 20-7 with a second penalty 17 minutes later.
Lucu's second try and Jean-Baptiste Claverie's conversion made for a nervy ending with six minutes still to play but Irish held firm to head home with a morale-boosting win.