Worcester Warriors 16 Harlequins 18

Harlequins qualified for their sixth European Rugby Challenge Cup semi-final after Demetri Catrakilis landed a 75th minute penalty to decide a topsy-turvy affair.

Quins opened the scoring via a Cadan Murley try, only for Worcester to hit back when Duncan Weir lofted an inch-perfect crosskick to Bryce Heem, who dotted it down.

Harlequins led 8-5 at the interval after a Marcus Smith penalty, but then Chris Pennell kicked a delightful ball behind the Quins line to Tom Howe, who dived over to put the Warriors 10-8 ahead.

Weir extended the lead with a penalty, but Danny Care played a lovely dink behind the Worcester line, finding Ben Tapuai, who gobbled up the chance. With Catrakilis converting, Quins were back in front at 15-13, before the sides traded late penalties.

[jwplayer S1tvcG2V]

La Rochelle 24 Sale Sharks 20

La Rochelle booked their first European Rugby Challenge Cup final with a superb performance to defeat Sale in an enthralling battle.

At a raucous Stade Marcel Deflandre, Sale got the better start with a penalty try, only for referee Nigel Owens to level things up by awarding La Rochelle a similar score, after Ihaia West and AJ MacGinty had exchanged penalties.

With Sale down to 14 men, Kini Murimurivalu crossed for a try which West converted, but the Sharks equalised just before half-time, when Tom Curry charged down West’s kick and Chris Ashton swooped for a try that MacGinty goaled.

Gregory Alldritt powered over in the corner for a converted try to regain the lead for La Rochelle, but MacGinty slotted over a penalty to set up a frantic finish, which La Rochelle saw out with some sterling defence.

[jwplayer dWE7JbFR]

Edinburgh Rugby 16 Bordeaux-Begles 16

A late penalty from Bordeaux-Begles captain Matthieu Jalibert snatched a dramatic draw for the French side in their top-of-the table Pool 3 clash at BT Murrayfield.

Jaco van der Walt had nudged the Scottish side 6-0 ahead with two penalties, before Blair Kinghorn sprinted clear after a turnover for a try that Van der Walt converted.

The fly-half pushed Edinburgh 16-6 ahead with his third penalty, but Semi Radrada launched the Bordeaux comeback when he slipped through a couple of tackles en route to the line. Jalibert converted and then denied Edinburgh victory with two minutes to play, slotting over a three-pointer.

[jwplayer smDkhEhy]

RC Toulon 17 Scarlets 16

Anthony Belleau was Toulon’s hero as he kicked a last-gasp conversion to leave Scarlets with only a losing bonus point to show from a thrilling European Rugby Challenge Cup tie between Pool 2’s leading two teams.

Despite being reduced to 14 men just before half-time after Tevita Ratuva’s red card, the Welsh region led 16-10 going into the dying seconds following a courageous second-half display, which brought penalties for Ryan Lamb and Dan Jones, who also dropped a goal.

However, the pressure of being a man light finally told in the eighth minute of stoppage time, when Toulon’s backs and forwards combined for Sébastien Taofifénua to maul his way over. Up stepped Belleau to land the ultimate pressure kick with the help of a post.

Cardiff Blues 11 Leicester Tigers 14

Leicester fly-half Tom Hardwick landed a penalty in the dying seconds to defeat Cardiff Blues and send the English club to the top of Pool 5.

The sides were locked at 11-11 from the hour after Hardwick had wiped out his side’s three-point half-time deficit, but the fly-half registered the decisive blow when Cardiff were caught offside.

Cardiff led 6-0 within the first 25 minutes as Jarrod Evans landed two penalties, but the game sprang into life when Jordan Coughlan rounded off some smart Tigers approach work from Ben White and Cardiff replied instantly as Aled Summerhill collected Jason Tovey’s crossfield kick to score on the left flank.

[jwplayer fAk1i1Yq]

As we come to the end of another thrilling year of European Rugby Challenge Cup matches, we look back at five of the top games.