Montpellier 36-26 Glasgow: Warriors suffer as Montpellier remain in Champions Cup hunt
Last Updated: 16/12/17 4:24pm
Montpellier kept the pressure on Leinster and Exeter in Champions Cup Pool 3 as they completed back-to-back victories over Glasgow Warriors at the Altrad Stadium.
The French side claimed a hard-fought 29-22 win at Scotstoun last Friday and another tough and highly-entertaining battle between the sides saw Montpellier emerge the 33-26 victors and condemn Glasgow to a fourth successive defeat in Europe this season.
Glasgow went in front in the second minute when Fraser Brown charged down a clearance kick from Montpellier full-back Jesse Mogg and raced over for a try which was converted by Peter Horne.
The hosts hit back strongly and were level five minutes later when the impressive Nemani Nadolo went over from close range after the Warriors had conceded two quickfire penalties.
The visitors were ahead again in the 13th minute when they managed to steal the ball on the Montpellier line and recycled it to Horne who stormed over before converting his own try.
The rollercoaster start continued with the French side levelling again in the 17th minute when Romain Ruffenach touched down from the back of a driving maul, Benoit Paillaugue adding his second conversion.
The pendulum quickly swung back in Glasgow's favour when they scored their third try two minutes later, Nick Grigg finishing off a good move down the left which was teed up by Horne's cross-field kick.
Horne failed to land his conversion attempt and neither side were able to add to their score in the second quarter, despite plenty of attacking intent, as Glasgow went into the break 19-14 ahead.
They found themselves behind five minutes after the restart, though, when Nadolo charged half the length of the field before being felled just short of the line. Montpellier then threw the ball out wide, right and replacement Henry Immelman was able to gallop over and score behind the posts.
Paillaugue again converted and he was on the scoresheet again three minutes later with a try of his own - securing the bonus point - after Ali Price's clearance kick had been charged down 10 metres from the line, although he was unable to add the two points this time as the hosts led 26-19.
Montpellier looked to have wrapped up the victory in style in the 67th minute when Immelman sauntered over for his second try following another powerful break from Nadolo down the left.
Aaron Cruden was also involved in the move as his pass teed up Immelman, although he had to be helped off the field after injuring a knee as he was tackled.
The Warriors reduced the deficit to seven points again with 10 minutes remaining when replacement George Horne finished off a well-worked move, with Finn Russell adding the extras.
A late penalty from Francois Steyn ended their hopes, though, and tempers boiled over in the closing stages with Montpellier's Bismarck du Plessis and Glasgow's Ruaridh Jackson both seeing yellow following a scuffle involving a number of players.
