Montpellier trounce Newcastle Falcons 45-8 to keep play-off hopes alive

Montpellier 45-8 Newcastle Falcons, GGL Stadium
Scorecard

Montpellier kept their hope of play-off in the ongoing European Challenge Cup alive after they went on to trounce Newcastle Falcons 45-8 at GGL Stadium on Saturday.

Montpellier now have 16 points from five games as they consolidated their second position in Pool 5 while Newcastle Falcons are languishing at third with eight points.

The French side scored five tries in the second half in tough conditions as they completed a vital bonus point victory. After the first 15 minutes went without a point, Timoci Nagusa touched down for an unconverted try to get the home side off the mark.

The response from Newcastle Falcons came in the 22nd minute when Toby Flood kicked the conversion but Montpellier went into the break with a 12-3 lead after Yvan Reilhac dotted down in the 32nd minute and Ruan Pienaar kicked the conversion.

The game was pretty much sealed in the third quarter with Paul Willemse (49'), Henry Immelman (55') and Nicolaas Janse van Rensburg (59') scoring tries and Ruan Pienaar converted all to make it 33-3.

Newcastle Falcons could not capitalise on the numerical advantage when Montpellier's Romain Ruffenach was sin-binned in the 62nd minute. Instead, Ruffenach (73') and Immelman (59') scored further tries.

Zach Kibirige scored a consolation try but the damage was already done as Montpellier completed a 45-8 victory.