Bonus point win for Montpellier at Newcastle
MATCH REPORT: Sam Simmonds scored a vital bonus-point try as Montpellier got their EPCR Challenge Cup campaign off to a perfect start at Newcastle Falcons.
The TOP14 side scored three unanswered tries and then withstood a Newcastle Falcons fightback before Simmonds completed their victory.
The French visitors made their pressure pay on 14 minutes with flank Alex Becognee powering over the whitewash and Louis Carbonel converted.
Wing Ben Lam furthered the visitors’ lead after being found from a 25th minute line-out and powering through to score an impressive effort, with Carbonel missing the resulting conversion.
Montpellier were on the front foot and scrumhalf Leo Coly was only denied his side’s third try by a saving tackle to lead 0-12 into half-time.
Just a minute into the second half the visitors had their third score when the ball was quickly passed through to fullback Anthony Bouthier who raced through a gap unchallenged to make it 0-17.
Newcastle Falcons rallied for a reaction and after being held up metres from try line No. 8 Callum Chick was on hand to score, with flyhalf Rory Jennings missing the resulting conversion.
Four minutes later the hosts were back in the match with centre Ollie Spencer kicking it over for wing Iwan Stephens to ground the ball.
However, it was Montpellier who increased their advantage with a bonus-point score coming courtesy of Simmonds after a breakthrough move alongside Carbonel.
Newcastle Falcons looked to rally late on after wing George Bridge was sent to the sin-bin, with hooker Jamie Blamire scoring their third try, converted by replacement Louie Johnson.
However, Montpellier withstood the late onslaught and took a valuable win.
Scorers:
For Montpellier:
Tries: Becognee, Lam, Bouthier, Simmonds
Cons: Carbonel 2
For Newcastle Falcons:
Tries: Chick, Stephens, Blamire
Cons: Jennings, Johnson
Teams:
Newcastle Falcons: 15 Ben Redshaw, 14 Adam Radwan, 13 Ollie Spencer, 12 Matias Orlando, 11 Iwan Stephens, 10 Rory Jennings, 9 James Elliott, 8 Callum Chick, 7 Sam Cross, 6 Freddie Lockwood, 5 Sebastian de Chaves, 4 John Hawkins, 3 Murray McCallum, 2 Bryan Byrne, 1 Phil Brantingham
Replacements: 16 Jamie Blamire, 17 Adam Brocklebank, 18 Mark Tampin, 19 Tim Cardall, 20 Ollie Leatherbarrow, 21 Hugh O’Sullivan, 22 Louie Johnson, 23 Zach Kerr
Montpellier: 15 Anthony Bouthier, 14 George Bridge, 13 Thomas Darmon, 12 Auguste Cadot, 11 Ben Lam, 10 Louis Carbonel, 9 Leo Coly, 8 Sam Simmonds, 7 Alex Becognee, 6 Clement Doumenc, 5 Tyler DuGuid, 4 Marco Tauleigne, 3 Harry Williams, 2 Vano Karkadze, 1 Gregory Fichten
Replacements: 16 Adrien Sonzogni, 17 Karl Tu’inukuafe, 18 Titi Lamositele, 19 Bastien Chalureau, 20 Cantin Foguet, 21 Louis Foursans-Bourdette, 22 Masi Dakuwaqa, 23 Pierre Lucas
Referee: Sam Grove-White
Assistant referees: Hollie Davidson, Ruairidh Campbell
TMO: Andrew McMenemy
Source @EPCR
