Montpellier keep Champions Cup hopes alive
Flank Kelian Galletier chalked up a brace of tries and lock Jacques du Plessis also made the scoresheet, with a penalty try ensuring the Top 14 side took a bonus point, moving them level on points with Exeter Chiefs, who face Leinster on Sunday, in Pool Three.
The defeat means Glasgow Warriors, quarterfinalists last season, have now lost all three of their European fixtures and almost ensures their exit at the Pool stage, while Montpellier's hopes of making the next round of competition have been boosted.
Finn Russell broke the deadlock with a penalty for Glasgow Warriors, but Galletier crossed in the first try of the match on 10 minutes after a delightful wide pass from All Black flyhalf Aaron Cruden.
Wing Leonardo Sarto and hooker George Turner both scored to put the hosts in front as they were roared on by the Scotstoun faithful, only for Galletier to double his tally after Turner was sent to the sin bin and the scores were 17-19 in favour of the French side come half-time after referee Matthew Carley awarded a penalty try in favour of Montpellier, with Jonny Gray picking up a second Glasgow yellow card.
Du Plessis opened the second half scoring eight minutes in, with Francois Steyn adding the extras before Sarto doubled his tally as Glasgow rallied, but a missed conversion left the door open for Montpellier, who rounded off the victory with a penalty via the boot of centre Steyn.
The scorers:
For Glasgow Warriors:
Tries: Sarto 2, Turner
Cons: Russell 2
Pen: Russell
For Montpellier:
Tries: Galletier 2, Penalty Try, J du Plessis
Cons: Steyn 2
Pen: Steyn
Yellow cards: George Turner (Glasgow, 27 – foul play, taking out the player without the ball); Jonny Gray (Glasgow, 38 – cynical play, collapsing the maul)
Teams:
Glasgow Warriors: 15 Ruaridh Jackson, 14 Leonardo Sarto, 13 Huw Jones, 12 Sam Johnson, 11 Tommy Seymour, 10 Finn Russell, 9 Ali Price, 8 Samuela Vunisa, 7 Matt Smith, 6 Ryan Wilson, 5 Jonny Gray, 4 Scott Cummings, 3 Zander Fagerson, 2 George Turner, 1 James Bhatti
Replacements: 16 James Malcolm, 17 Alex Allan, 18 Siua Halanukonuka, 19 Kiran McDonald, 20 Chris Fusaro, 21 George Horne, 22 Peter Horne, 23 Niko Matawalu
Montpellier: 15 Jesse Mogg, 14 Benjamin Fall, 13 Frans Steyn, 12 Jan Serfontein, 11 Nemani Nadolo, 10 Aaron Cruden, 9 Enzo Sanga, 8 Louis Picamoles, 7 Julien Bardy, 6 Kelian Galletier, 5 Jacques du Plessis, 4 Nico Janse van Rensburg, 3 Johannes Jonker, 2 Bismarck du Plessis, 1 Mikheil Nariashvili
Replacements: 16 Romain Ruffenach, 17 Grégory Fichten, 18 Mohamed Haouas, 19 Konstantine Mikautadze, 20 Fulgence Ouedraogo, 21 Benoit Paillaugue, 22 Gabriel Ngandebe, 23 Henry Immelman
Referee: Matthew Carley (England)
Assistant referees: Greg Macdonald (England), Andrew Jackson (England)
TMO: Stuart Terheege (England)
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