LONDON Irish slipped to an agonising 27-20 defeat in Grenoble as a last-minute Clement Gelin try secured the French side victory in their European Challenge Cup Pool Five encounter.

The Exiles travelled to France on the back of an outstanding 48-10 victory against Agen seven days previously, but they fell behind in the sixth minute after a superb break by Grenoble’s South African full back Gio Aplon allowed hooker Arnaud Heguy to cross for the opening score.

Gilles Bosch knocked over the extras and the home side extended their lead on 11 minutes, flanker Fabien Alexandre going over for a converted score.

Tom Coventry’s men showed their character, however, and young Johnny Williams powered over for a second try in as many games to cut the gap just two minutes later. Chris Noakes added the conversion to make it 14-7.

Bosch extended the Grenoble lead with a penalty shortly after, but Irish defended resolutely against some continual home pressure to stay in the game.

Noakes departed on the half hour – replaced by academy star Theo Brophy-Clews – and they grabbed a try through Canadian flanker Jebb Sinclair just before half-time. With Brophy-Clews slotting the conversion, Irish trailed 17-14 at the break.

The replacement knocked over a penalty to level matters early in the second period, and with World Cup-winning prop Ben Franks making his Exiles debut on 48 minutes, the momentum was with the away side.

Brophy-Clews Irish in front with another penalty just a minute later, but Bosch drew Grenoble level with a kick of his own in the 52nd minute.

The Exiles enjoyed a dominant passage of play towards the end of the third quarter, but the Frenchmen came back strongly as the game moved towards its denouement.

London Irish came close to snatching the victory just two minutes from time when Alex Lewington was hauled down just short of the line, but Gelin’s breakaway score at the very death meant the visitors were left with a solitary losing bonus point.

London Irish return to Premiership action against Wasps as part of the Twickenham double header next Saturday (5.30pm).