Mogg, Catrakilis steer Montpellier to Challenge Cup victory

Harlequins 19-26 Montpellier, Grand Stade de Lyon
Scorecard 

Montpellier dashed Harlequins hopes of giving rugby director Conor O'Shea a winning send-off by defeating the Premiership side by 26-19 at Grand Stade de Lyon to win the European Rugby Challenge Cup.

Replacement Jesse Mogg scored decisive tries, one in each half, whereas fly-half Demetri Catrakilis kicked 16 points, including two conversions and four penalties to push Montpellier towards a hard fought victory.

Three penalties coming off Harlequins fly-half Nick Evans' boot kept them in the race until the half-time whistle, however, Montpellier's South African-dominated heavyweight squad out-muscled the Quins at key moments to hand the French side its first Challenge Cup.

Quins winger Marland Yarde scored a 71st minute try which was successfully converted by Ben Botica who went on to score a penalty in the 77th minute, but the clock ran out of time as Quins succumbed to a seven-point defeat.

This was O'Shea's last game at Quins as he departs to take charge of Italy's national side this summer. This defeat has also crashed Quins hopes to secure European Champions Cup qualification and will once again play second-tier Challenge Cup rugby.

Montpellier coached by South Africa's 2007 World Cup-winning mastermind Jake White, won the first major trophy in their history before 28,500 fans in Lyon.

A minute-long silence was observed before the kick-off in memory of Seb Adeniran-Olule, who recently died at the age of 20 in a road accident. Adeniran-Olule's initials were embroidered on Quins' shirts, while the players also wore black armbands.

Quins were bolstered by the arrival of England Prop Joe Marler who returned after completing his second suspension of the season.

Montpellier, who were lead by France international Flanker Fulgence Ouedraogo, were heavily influenced by South African rugby heavyweights Frans Steyn, Bismarck du Plessis and Pierre Spies.

Evans did the honors of opening Quins' account on the scoreboard by scoring a 35-meter penalty in the fourth minute of the game. Catrakilis responded well to the challenge by splitting the posts with his penalty kick resulting out of a scrum in the seventh minute.

Mogg crossed across the line for a try on the 22nd minute as Catrakilis successfully made the conversion.

The Montpellier fly-half scored another penalty in the 28th minute putting them ahead of the Quins. However, Evans responded well with two penalties on the 31st and the 34th minute. Montpellier went into the half-time with a slender four point lead.

The French side upped their game in the second-half as Mogg crossed over for another try on the 47th minute. Catrakilis added the extras as Montpellier took the early upper hand.

Catrakilis scored two more penalties on the 54th and the 67th minute as Quins started to drift further behind with a sturdy 17-point deficit.

With 13 minutes left in the game, Quins finally woke up to the challenge but despite their best efforts, they failed to catch-up with Montpellier as the french side managed to register a historic win.