Two finals and one semi-final over the last three years for UCC might have been a triumph of sorts in students' European rugby but it failed to ease the sharp pain of defeat as the battle-hardened holders handed over their title in Bayonne last night.
In almost perfect conditions, UCC met the typical fast running style of French play head on and in phases possessed the ability to dominate territorially, but ultimately were unable to build a score from which to threaten the home side.
The Cork students, who had reached their second final in successive years carrying the scalps of St Mary's Twickenham and Loughborough, blew hot for enough of the game to suggest that they had the beating of Bayonne on another occasion. But while the French students were mean in the loose, tight in defence and had a terrific kicker, UCC occasionally opened themselves to soft touches.
The referee also came in for criticism from UCC coach Brian Hyland. "I thought Ed Morrison was poor. His decisions were confusing, particularly in the ruck situations. The players didn't know what he was blowing for," said Hyland.
There was no doubt, too, that the contest should have been more hotly disputed score-wise as the two teams closed the first half, with Bayonne 12-0 ahead with four penalties from out-half Daniel Larrechea, a lively player throughout the match.
That first period provided the Irish with only two penalty attempts, both in the dying minutes with out-half Brian O'Mahony not finding his range with either. But, while UCC had taken at least 15 minutes to meet the tempo of the French side, who were 6-0 up within the same time, their final 20 minutes of the opening half were played almost entirely in Bayonne territory. That the Irish students came away with nothing from that phase contributed in no small measure to the final complexion of the game. The Achilles heel was a lack of a surgical finish, admittedly against scorching French covering.
While prop Gareth Murray, open-side Joey Sheahan and second-row Frank McKenna were making the yardage and centre Conrad O'Sullivan throwing in shuddering tackles, the breaks rarely went to the Irish.
"We were well in the match at half-time and got the score to 12-6. Then we needed a small break or a little bit of luck to go our way. But it never came," said Hyland. Back-row Mick O'Riordan was sin binned in the 43rd minute for a rucking offence, his brief absence having no lasting affect on the outcome. O'Mahony landed two penalties to take the score to 12-6 just after the hour and hope turned to a fleeting possibility that the game was within reach. Right wing Niall Kenneally was grounded inches from the line and in a succession of forays Sheahan, Murray and Daragh Holt were repulsed in UCC's most potent attacking period. Critically they took nothing from it.
Unable to gain a foothold, hope perished as the snappy little home scrum-half, Patrick Cazaux, took advantage of a reversed penalty for a late tackle inside the Bayonne 22. From that the play moved into the Irish 22 and the number nine sneaked over a hillock of bodies in the right corner to nail Bayonne's only try, Larrechea converting from the tightest of angles for 19-6.
Scoring sequence: 3 mins: Larrechea pen, 3-0; 6 mins: Larrechea pen, 6-0; 25 mins: Larrechea pen, 9-0; 40 mins: Larrechea pen, 12-0; 47 mins: O'Mahony pen, 12-3; 64 mins: O'Mahony pen, 12-6; 71 mins: Cazaux try, Larrechea con, 19-6.
UCC: C Healy (capt); N Kenneally, P Barry, C O'Sullivan, D Holt; B O'Mahony, H Casey; G Murray, G Flannery, M Ross, J Fitzgerald, F McKenna, M Riordan, J Sheahan, D Lane. Replacements: M Nathan for Flannery (57 mins), C McCarthy for Ross (80 mins).
Bayonne: F Larralde; R Alvarez, P Bidabe, J Galle, G Lay; D Larrechea, P Cazaux; P Etchegaray, H Dubouloz, L Segaud, O Esterez, C Couriol, R Berges, L Iriarate (capt), N Drogon. Replacements: A Bilek for Drogon (57 mins), X Castano for Couriol (60 mins), B Soleilhavoup for Doubouloz (67 mins).
Referee: E Morrison (England).
