GLASGOW WARRIORS MARCHED into the quarter-finals of the European Champions Cup for the first time by dismantling Leicester Tigers 43-0.
The Warriors made the trip to Welford Road on Saturday knowing a win would be enough to progress from Pool One as one of the three best runners-up and they humiliated the tame Tigers to break new ground.
Leicester have now lost five matches in a row after they were unable to live with Gregor Townsend’s rampant side, who scored six tries to consign the Premiership side to their heaviest European defeat.
Tommy Seymour started the rout when he broke through to touch down and the Pro12 outfit were out of sight by half-time, with a penalty try, a Mark Bennett score, one from captain Jonny Gray and 11 points from the boot of Finn Russell putting them 31-0 at the break.
Further tries from Ryan Wilson and Tim Swinson piled on the agony for feeble Leicester as Glasgow qualified in second place behind Munster at a canter.
Earlier, three-time winners Toulon sneaked into the European Cup quarter-finals despite slipping to a 10-3 defeat at defending champions Saracens.
The French giants made sure of a last-eight spot when Welsh fullback Leigh Halfpenny fired over a monster 50-metre penalty after 63 minutes to assure his team of a losing bonus point in the Pool 3 game.
Toulon finished on 16 points, the same as Montpellier in Pool 4, but with a better points difference allowing them to grab qualification as one of three best runners-up.
Saracens’ only try came from winger Chris Ashton, who will join Toulon next season, with the win giving the English side a home quarter-final.
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Toulon's Bryan Habana tries to break free from the tackle of Saracens' Nick Tompkins. Paul Harding
Paul Harding
In the other concluding Pool 3 game, Sale edged Scarlets 25-23 but their first win of the tournament was not enough to lift them off the foot of the table.
Former Connacht out-half AJ MacGinty was the hero for Sale, his late penalty clinching the win, as they ended a run of 10 consecutive defeats in a thrilling clash at the AJ Bell Stadium.
Earlier, top French club Clermont, already assured a place in the quarter-finals, launched a first-half blitz to overcome Exeter 48-26 in their European Cup tie.
The home side went on a five-try rampage in the first period and added two after the break.
But plucky Exeter refused to lie down, bouncing back valiantly with a four-try riposte in a thrilling second half but left it too late to change the outcome.
French Top 14 league leaders Clermont stamped their mark on the game after just two minutes with hooker Benjamin Kayser piling over for Morgan Parra to convert.
Clermont were awarded a penalty try on 30 minutes and Fijian winger Noa Nakaitaci, centre Wesley Fofana, who later left the field with a ruptured Achilles, and former Bath fullback Nick Abendanon also crossed the line to pile on the pain for the visitors, who trailed 34-0 at half-time.
After the break winger James Short went over for a try on 41 minutes converted by fly-half Gareth Steenson to get Exeter on the scoresheet but a double volley of tries from backrower Peceli Yato and Alexandre Lapandry for Clermont restored the home side’s dominance.
That was until the hour mark, when Exeter sensed their chance as Clermont tired and centre Ollie Devoto, winger Olly Woodburn and Michele Campagnaro all crossed the line in an eight-minute spell of high-octane aggression from wide and deep.
But time ran out for Exeter and Clermont held on for a victory.
Glasgow humiliate Leicester, Toulon scrape through and MacGinty stars for Sale
Updated at 21.30
GLASGOW WARRIORS MARCHED into the quarter-finals of the European Champions Cup for the first time by dismantling Leicester Tigers 43-0.
The Warriors made the trip to Welford Road on Saturday knowing a win would be enough to progress from Pool One as one of the three best runners-up and they humiliated the tame Tigers to break new ground.
Leicester have now lost five matches in a row after they were unable to live with Gregor Townsend’s rampant side, who scored six tries to consign the Premiership side to their heaviest European defeat.
Tommy Seymour started the rout when he broke through to touch down and the Pro12 outfit were out of sight by half-time, with a penalty try, a Mark Bennett score, one from captain Jonny Gray and 11 points from the boot of Finn Russell putting them 31-0 at the break.
Further tries from Ryan Wilson and Tim Swinson piled on the agony for feeble Leicester as Glasgow qualified in second place behind Munster at a canter.
Earlier, three-time winners Toulon sneaked into the European Cup quarter-finals despite slipping to a 10-3 defeat at defending champions Saracens.
The French giants made sure of a last-eight spot when Welsh fullback Leigh Halfpenny fired over a monster 50-metre penalty after 63 minutes to assure his team of a losing bonus point in the Pool 3 game.
Toulon finished on 16 points, the same as Montpellier in Pool 4, but with a better points difference allowing them to grab qualification as one of three best runners-up.
Saracens’ only try came from winger Chris Ashton, who will join Toulon next season, with the win giving the English side a home quarter-final.
In the other concluding Pool 3 game, Sale edged Scarlets 25-23 but their first win of the tournament was not enough to lift them off the foot of the table.
Former Connacht out-half AJ MacGinty was the hero for Sale, his late penalty clinching the win, as they ended a run of 10 consecutive defeats in a thrilling clash at the AJ Bell Stadium.
Earlier, top French club Clermont, already assured a place in the quarter-finals, launched a first-half blitz to overcome Exeter 48-26 in their European Cup tie.
The home side went on a five-try rampage in the first period and added two after the break.
But plucky Exeter refused to lie down, bouncing back valiantly with a four-try riposte in a thrilling second half but left it too late to change the outcome.
French Top 14 league leaders Clermont stamped their mark on the game after just two minutes with hooker Benjamin Kayser piling over for Morgan Parra to convert.
Clermont were awarded a penalty try on 30 minutes and Fijian winger Noa Nakaitaci, centre Wesley Fofana, who later left the field with a ruptured Achilles, and former Bath fullback Nick Abendanon also crossed the line to pile on the pain for the visitors, who trailed 34-0 at half-time.
After the break winger James Short went over for a try on 41 minutes converted by fly-half Gareth Steenson to get Exeter on the scoresheet but a double volley of tries from backrower Peceli Yato and Alexandre Lapandry for Clermont restored the home side’s dominance.
That was until the hour mark, when Exeter sensed their chance as Clermont tired and centre Ollie Devoto, winger Olly Woodburn and Michele Campagnaro all crossed the line in an eight-minute spell of high-octane aggression from wide and deep.
But time ran out for Exeter and Clermont held on for a victory.
Results:
Pool 1
Leicester (ENG) 0 Glasgow (SCO) 43
Munster (IRL) 22 Racing 92 (FRA) 10
Pool 3
Sale (ENG) 25 Scarlets (WAL) 23
Saracens (ENG) 10 Toulon (FRA) 3
Pool 5
Clermont (FRA) 48 Exeter (ENG) 26
Ulster (IRL) 22 Bordeaux-Begles (FRA) 26
© – AFP, 2017
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Champions Cup Clermont exeter it's a wrap Saracens Toulon