A stunning try in the first minute of added time gave Grenoble a surprise round-one second-leg victory at Headingley and with it a passage into the next round.

Leeds may yet qualify by the side door, but they could have no complaints about their 27-26 aggregate defeat after a dismal showing.

The crucial try in the 81st minute owed everything to a superbly placed cross kick by replacement fly-half David Aucange, who found yards of space for wingman Jason Tiatia to get the crucial score.

Grenoble had the early encouragement of a penalty goal from fly-half Maxime Suarez that his opposite number Gordon Ross quickly cancelled out before Leeds piece together their first movement of consequence.

Lock Scott Morgan again provided quick, clean line-out ball and Leeds used it briskly and effectively. Recycling quickly, they provided Ross with the space to give full-back Iain Balshaw the chance to let David Rees stretch over for his first try of the season.

That slick passage of play, however, proved to be a false dawn for Leeds, who were unable to impose themselves on the game, even when the Frenchmen were reduced to 14 men with the sin-binning of Sebastien Petit for killing the ball at the breakdown.

While Leeds picked up a second penalty from Ross, the rest of the first-half honours went to Grenoble.

A second penalty from Suarez cut the deficit before a try by centre Jacobus Lubbe put his side on level terms.

The first serious defensive flaw of the game from Leeds allowed Pierre Negre-Gauthier to find a way through and Lubbe took the scoring pass.

Saurez was again on the mark with the conversion to leave a disjointed Leeds needing to sharpen up to avoid an upset.

Leeds continued to stumble through a series of simple mistakes in the second half. There was a let-off when Suarez was wide with another long-range penalty before the home side managed to win a footing in Grenoble territory.

Though they were unable to breakthrough a determined French rearguard, Leeds edged ahead after 57 minutes with a Ross penalty and before Grenoble could regroup, Ross struck again with his fourth penalty.

Even then Leeds were never comfortable and needed a smart piece of defensive work from Tom Biggs to deny Negre Gauthier.

Biggs responded in fine style to enhance his growing reputation and keep Leeds in the contest.