Leeds lose Euro opener
Leeds Carnegie got off to a losing start in the Challenge Cup with a 29-19 defeat at Bourgoin.
Last Updated: 10/10/09 11:38am
Leeds Carnegie got off to a losing start in the Amlin Challenge Cup 29-19 at Bourgoin to continue their winless start to the new season.
Neil Back's men failed to reverse their domestic form in the Guinness Premiership after they were out-scored two tries to one at Stade Pierre Rajon.
Rudi Coetzee's early score was followed by David Janin while fly-half Alberto Di Bernardo landed six kicks to leave Leeds trailing 23-6 by half-time.
Leeds briefly hinted at what would have been a remarkable comeback when Samoan back-row Alfie Vaeluaga To'oala barged over six minutes into the second half.
Veteran fly-half Jason Strange converted and added two more penalties to his first half strikes to haul Leeds to within a try at 23-19.
But replacement and France international Benjamin Boyet stepped off the bench to land two more penalties, including a last-minute effort which denied Leeds a losing bonus point.
