Newcastle Falcons 7-26 Montpellier, Kingston Park
The Newcastle Falcons' campaign in the EPCR Challenge Cup came to an end on Friday night following a 7-26 home defeat to French side Montpellier.
Despite a promising first-half effort that saw the sides tied at halftime, the Falcons were unable to match the visitors' dominance in the second half.
The match began with Montpellier taking an early lead just two minutes in. After winning turnover ball inside their own 22, the French side launched a rapid 80-metre counter-attack, with scrum-half Alexis Bernadet finishing a two-on-one play. Thomas Darmon converted the try from a tight angle.
Newcastle responded with a try of their own. Alex Hearle crossed the line after collecting an inside pass from Max Pepper, following a break down the wing. Kieran Wilkinson added the conversion to bring the scores level at 7-7.
Wilkinson came close to a spectacular solo try shortly before halftime, weaving through the defense and chipping the full-back, but he narrowly missed regathering the bouncing ball.
The Falcons almost took the lead in the final moments of the half when Wilkinson’s grubber kick to the corner was chased by Hearle, but the video referee ruled that a Montpellier defender had reached the ball first.
Newcastle had another opportunity to score with a penalty kick to the corner, but they failed to capitalize on the resulting maul, leaving the sides tied at the break.
Montpellier regained control six minutes into the second half when Jan Serfontein supported a line-break and finished a five-metre offload on the left. Replacement scrum-half Aurelien Barreau added the conversion to push the French side ahead.
The visitors extended their lead with a third try as hooker Lyam Akrab scored from a well-executed catch-and-drive in the right corner. Their bonus-point try came in the 66th minute when substitute Nicolas Martins powered over from close range following a pick-and-go.
Akrab was later shown a yellow card for a dangerous tip tackle on Joe Davis, but by then, the outcome had already been decided.
The defeat marks the end of Newcastle’s EPCR Challenge Cup run. Despite a valiant effort, injuries and missed opportunities hindered the Falcons’ chances against a clinical Montpellier side.
Team line up:
Newcastle: Brown, Redshaw, Hearle, Spencer, Pepper, Wilkinson, Elliott; Rewcastle, Byrne, McCallum, van der Walt (c), Hawkins, Parsons, Leatherbarrow, Lockwood.
Reserves: Blamire, Connor Hancock, Callum Hancock, McDonald, Chick, Davis, Connon, Clark.
Montpellier: Tisseron, Lucas, Darmon, Serfontein, N'Gandebe, Miotti, Bernadet; Erdocio, Tolofua, Haouas, Soucouna, Tauleigne, Delemarle, Simmonds (c), Becognee.
Reserves: Akrab, Abuladze, Hounkpatin, Verhaeghe, Martins, Barreau, Cadot, Bouthier.