CHALLENGE CUP POOL TWO: Montpellier 19 Connacht 22: CONNACHT RECORDED one of their finest European victories when they maintained their position at the top of Pool Two in the Challenge Cup with a magnificent victory in France last night.
Connacht were forced to defend a three-point lead during a seven-minute siege on their line in the closing stages.
But the defence remained intact as Montpellier piled on the pressure, and in the end Michael Bradley’s men held out for a deserved victory.
Two tries from Fionn Carr – he also got a brace in the 46-6 win over Olympus Madrid last week – were instrumental in the victory, and Niva Ta’auso got the third as Connacht outscored the home side by three tries to one.
Connacht trailed by 10 points at one stage in the opening half, but they turned up the heat in the second half and could have got a bonus point with a fourth try.
Montpellier led 16-10 at the end of an opening half in which Connacht enjoyed plenty of possession but lacked a cutting edge.
Montpellier made the most of the chances they created in the opening quarter and opened a 13-3 lead after 22 minutes.
Argentine international Federico Todeschini punished Connacht, giving Montpellier an early advantage with a drop goal from in front of the posts after less than two minutes.
Miah Nikora cancelled that at the other end with a penalty from the left on the 22 four minutes later.
Connacht then enjoyed a lengthy spell on the offensive but were unable to punish the French.
Todeschini extended Montpellier’s lead with a 35-metre penalty after 16 minutes, and better was to follow for them when Ollie Smith burst through for the opening try, which Todeschini converted.
Nikora was off target at the other end with a penalty from the right, but they continued to go forward and the pressure finally paid off five minutes from the break when Carr cut an excellent line to break through for a try which Nikora converted to leave it 13-10.
Todeschini extended Montpellier’s lead just before the break with another penalty.
But Connacht dominated the third quarter and Keith Matthews made a superb break for interval substitute Ian Keatley to send Carr over for his second try four minutes after the restart.
Keatley landed the touchline conversion for Connacht to lead for the first time, but their 17-16 advantage was quickly erased as Todeschini landed another penalty after 47 minutes.
But that was to be Montpellier’s final score, and the crucial score came after 59 minutes when Connacht opened the home defence with a swift move from the right which finished with Keatley putting Niva Ta’auso over in the left corner.
That put Connacht 22-19 in front and they had chances to seal the deal before having to endure a torrid closing period as Montpellier, shock winners in Worcester last week and only beaten once at home this season, came at them in waves.
But Connacht held out and it was a rousing rendition of the The Fields of Athenry from the visiting fans which rang out in the superb stadium at the end of the game.
MONTPELLIER: B Thiery; J Schutte, O Smith, F Nicot, A Pratmarty; F Todeschini, A Tomas; E Van Staden, M Ladhuie, B Douglas, M Macurdy, M Gorgodze, J Vallée, M Giraud, S Matadigo. Replacements: V Bost for Vallee, J Caudullo for Ladhuie, D Hancke for Matadigo (all 55 mins); K Kervarec for Douglas, N Leleimalefaga for Staden (both 58 mins); B Paillaugue for Todeschini (60 mins); G Doumayrou for Nicot (68 mins); S Max for Schutte (76 mins).
CONNACHT: G Duffy; T Nathan, N Ta'auso, K Matthews, F Carr; M Nikora, F Murphy; B Wilkinson, A Flavin, J Hagan, M Swift, B Upton, M McCarthy, J O'Connor, J Muldoon. Replacements: I Keatley for Nikora (h-t); A Browne for Swift (70 mins).
Referee: C White(England).
