Racing gain instant revenge
London Irish's Heineken Cup hopes have been left hanging by a thread after they went down 25-19 to Racing Metro.
Last Updated: 17/12/11 7:14pm
Racing Metro avenged their home loss against London Irish last weekend with a 25-19 triumph at the Madejski Stadium.
Winger Sereli Bobo crossed for a try and fly-half Jonathan Wisniewski kicked 20 points to settle the Pool Two clash in favour of the Top 14 team.
Hooker David Paice got a try for London Irish with the last move of the game, meaning the hosts did at least claim a losing bonus point.
However the defeat leaves the Aviva Premiership club facing an uphill task to qualify for the knockout stages of the Heineken Cup, having now won just once in this year's competition.
In contention
Their superb bonus-point victory over Racing last time out had brought Toby Booth's side right back into the mix, meaning a similar result on home soil could have lifted them firmly into contention in Pool Two.
The visitors, though, were a much different side from the one who had succumbed 34-14 the previous Saturday, and not just because they'd made eight changes to their starting XV.
The Exiles appeared set to carry on from where they left off in Paris when the recalled Tom Homer hammered over a penalty from inside his own half.
It was a bright start by London Irish, but Racing, with little to play for in the group, were in no mood to just lie down.
The first period was a kicking contest as Homer landed three more penalties, while Wisniewski punished persistent home errors with points.
Irish gave away two kickable shots at goal for Wisniewski, and, with Racing's powerful pack surging forward, the 26-year-old twice slotted over drop goals, making it 15-12 to his team at the break.
Initiative
Irish needed tries to secure another bonus point, but it was Racing who seized the initiative in the second half.
Wisniewski dropped a third goal after 50 minutes before an opening try finally arrived.
Bobo kicked on a dropped ball by an Irish player and sped away under the posts, leaving his in-form fly-half with a simple conversion attempt.
London Irish did all they could to find a way back into the contest and were given a glimmer of hope when Wisniewski was sent to the sin-bin after a deliberate knock-on.
The Exiles managed to make the most of the extra man when Paice was put through a gap from five metres out, Homer converting to reduce the deficit to six points.
