Exeter Chiefs' Challenge Cup visit to France ends on sour note

Exeter succumbed to a late fightback from Racing 92 after Greg Fisilau had been sent to the sin-bin as the French side snatched a dramatic 31-31 draw in their Investec Challenge Cup match at the Stade Dominique Duvauchelle.

After Kleo Labarbe put the hosts ahead with an early try, the Chiefs, who beat Cheetahs 42-12 in their opening game, responded as Martin Moloney and Kane James both touched down.

Selestino Ravutaumada’s 27th-minute try pulled Racing back in the game, only for Lewis Pearson and Rus Tuima to go over before the break to give Exeter what seemed a solid 28-12 lead, Ben Coen making all the conversions.

After a hectic first half, the tempo dropped following changes from both sides in the pack.

Exeter saw Tuima given a yellow card just after the hour, with Racing capitalising to score another try through Romain Taofifenua before Coen kicked a 70th-minute penalty and Fisilau was also then sent to the sin-bin.

Nolann Donguy’s try set up a tense finish and Racing rallied as Antoine Latrasse went over in added time, with Geronimo Prisciantelli slotting over the extras to complete the comeback.

Elsewhere, Dragons produced a late rally with a last-gasp converted try from Harrison Keddie to edge out Lyon 23-21 in a thrilling finish at Rodney Parade

The Welsh side, who lost away in Perpignan last time out, made a bright start and went ahead through couple of penalties from Angus O’Brien before Jared Rosser was shown a yellow card in the 22nd minute for an illegal clear out.

Lyon, beaten at home by Newcastle in their opening European fixture, went on to take a 7-6 lead into half-time following a converted try by South African Janse Roux.

The French side continued their momentum after the break as wing Arthur Mathiron gathered his own kick to touch down. Prop Ave Maalo then added another try from close range after Dragons fly-half Tinus de Beer was sent to the sin-bin in the 56th minute for not rolling away.

Dragons, though, rallied again as Keddie went over in the corner and Lyon then picked up a late yellow card for Josiah Maraku. The home side made the extra man count as Oli Burrows scored from the back of a driving maul to reduce the deficit to 21-16 as O’Brien missed another conversion attempt.

There was a grandstand finish when Keddie crashed over for his second try of the match in the 79th minute and this time O’Brien made sure of the extras to seal a dramatic victory.