Glasgow hang on for tense draw
Rory Lamont marked his return to France with a try as Glasgow clinched a 13-13 draw against Montpellier in their European Cup clash at Stade Yves du Manoir on Saturday.
The Scottish international crossed for a crucial try, in just his second appearance for Glasgow after making the switch from Toulon, to keep his side’s slim hopes of a Heineken Cup quarterfinal place alive.
Glasgow had recorded an impressive 20-15 home victory over the French side last weekend to go second in Pool Three behind reigning champions Leinster. While winless Montpellier already had no chance of advancing from the group stages.
But Sean Lineen’s men have to wait until the outcome of tonight’s clash between Leinster and Bath to see where they lie in the pool .
The visitors survived an early onslaught and both Ruaridh Jackson and Lilian Perraux missed penalties to go in front.
But it was home side who finally got the scoreboard ticking when wing Yoan Audrin finished off a sweeping attack with a try, which was converted by Perraux.
Glasgow finally got their first points thanks to the boot of Jackson but Perraux hit back immediately with a penalty to restore their seven point lead.
The teenage flyhalf, starting ahead of Francois Trinh-Duc, then added his second and third penalties to stretch the home side’s lead.
With replacement prop Maximiliano in the sin-bin Glasgow made the one-man advantage count when Chris Cusiter and Weir worked the blindside to put Lamont in at the left corner for the Warriors first try.
Weir converted to bring the Scottish side to within three points of their hosts and added another penalty to draw level.
Replacement scrumhalf Benoit Paillaugue had the opportunity to snatch a win at the death, after taking up the kicking duties ahead of France star Trinh-Duc, but skewed the straight-forward penalty as Glasgow hung-on.
The scorers:
For Montpellier:
Try: Audrin
Con: Perraux
Pens: Perraux 2
For Glasgow:
Try: Lamont
Con: Weir
Pens: Jackson, Weir
The teams:
Glasgow: 15 Stuart Hogg, 14 Federico Aramburu, 13 Peter Murchie, 12 Troy Nathan, 11 Rory Lamont, 10 Ruaridh Jackson, 9 Chris Cusiter, 8 Johnnie Beattie, 7 Chris Fusaro, 6 John Barclay, 5 Al Kellock (capt), 4 Richie Gray, 3 Mike Cusack, 2 Pat MacArthur, 1 Ryan Grant.
Replacements: 16 Dougie Hall, 17 Jon Welsh, 18 Moray Low, 19 Tom Ryder, 20 Ryan Wilson, 21 Henry Pyrgos, 22 Duncan Weir, 23 Rob Dewey.
Montpellier: 15 J-B Peyras Loustalet, 14 Pierre Bérard, 13 Paul Bosch, 12 Thomas Combezou, 11 Yoan Audrin, 10 Ilian Perraux, 9 Eric Escande, 8 Masi Matadigo, 7 Rémy Martin, 6 Vassili Bost, 5 Drickus Hancke, 4 Joe Tuineau, 3 Kevin Kervarec, 2 Mickael Ladhuie, 1 Goderzi Shvelidze.
Replacements: 16 Joan Caudullo, 17 Mikheil Nariashvili, 18 Maximiliano Bustos, 19 Mamuka Gorgodze, 20 Kelian Galletier, 21 Benoit Paillaugue, 22 Francois Trinh-Duc, 23 Geoffrey Doumayrou.
Referee: Andrew Small (England)
Assistant referees: Sean Davey (England), Nigel Carrick (England)
TMO: Graham Hughes (England)
