An 86th-minute try from Clermont’s Thomas Ceyte broke Bristol hearts at the Stade Marcel-Michelin as the Bears exited the Investec Champions Cup despite an inspired second half fightback in front of a raucous home crowd.
Pat Lam’s side trailed 12-0 at the interval but hit back with a deserved penalty try from a dominant lineout drive, before Clermont add their third – a second of the night for Alevereti Raka – to restore their 12-point lead.
A close-range score from James Dun reduced the deficit before Noah Heward levelled the scores, finishing off a trademark scintillating attack from the visitors in which Benhard Janse van Rensburg collected Harry Byrne’s pinpoint chip ahead before Rich Lane released the wing in the right-hand corner.
Clermont were then awarded a penalty try of their own, with skipper Fitz Harding sent to the sin bin, but the Bears refused to lie down and hit back immediately when James Dun’s crunching hit forced the turnover and Kieran Marmion flew over in the corner for his third Champions Cup try of the campaign, with Harry Byrne landing a clutch conversion from the touchline to level it up once again.
But with the clock in the red, and following a breathless passage of play, Ceyte went over from close range to snatch a dramatic win for the hosts, leaving the Bears with two bonus-points but out of the competition.
Clermont Auvergne: Newsome; Delguy, Belaubre, Simone, Raka; Belleau, Jauneau; Lotrian, Fainga’a, Ala’Alatoa, Simmons, Yato, Tixeront, Kremer, Lee (capt).
Replacements: Falgoux, Massa, Ojovan, Ceyte, Fischer, Bezy, Urdapilleta, Tauzin.
Bristol Bears: Lane; Heward, Jenkins, Van Rensburg, Bailey; Byrne, Randall; Genge, Oghre, Kloska, Dun, Owen, Luatua, Grondona, Harding (capt).
Replacements: Thacker, Thomas, Lahiff, Barker, Mata, Marmion, Ravouvou, Elizalde.
Bristol Bears: Tries: Penalty 47, Luatua 57, Heward 67, Marmion 77. Yellow: Byrne 17
ASM Clermont: Tries: Newsome 18, Raka 40, 57, Penalty 76, Ceyte 80. Cons: Belleau 40, 57, Urdapilleta 80
