Stade Francais beat Bath to complete semi line-up

LONDON (AFP) –

Stade Francais’ wing Waisea Vuidravuwalu (L) runs during a match in Buenos Aires, on August 4, 2012. French Top 14 strugglers Stade Francais kept alive their hopes of qualifying for next year’s European Cup by brushing aside outclassed Bath 36-20 at The Rec on Saturday to reach the Challenge Cup semi-finals.

French Top 14 strugglers Stade Francais kept alive their hopes of qualifying for next year’s European Cup by brushing aside outclassed Bath 36-20 at The Rec on Saturday to reach the Challenge Cup semi-finals.

Stade have suffered a miserable season and currently sit 10th in the Top 14 table with no hope of finishing in the top six and making the end of season play-offs.

However, the winners of the Challenge Cup qualify for the European Cup next season and Stade’s victory maintains their hopes of salvaging something from a troubled campaign.

The result was never in doubt as Stade ran in four tries with Fiji winger Waisea Vuidravuwalu and French Sevens international Hugo Bonneval both scoring a brace.

South African scrum-half Michael Claasens and Scottish full-back Jack Cuthbert went over for Bath.

The result meant three French teams will take their place in the last four while all three English participants in the quarter-finals were beaten at home.

Stade will now play away at Perpignan, impressive 30-19 winners over reigning French champions Toulouse on Friday night, in the semi-finals.

Deposed European champions Leinster are the only non-French side in the last four after the Irish province won 48-28 at Wasps, also on Friday.

They will host Biarritz in the final four after the Basques romped to a 41-31 success at Gloucester on Thursday.