Gear guides Worcester

Rico Gear led a fearsome Worcester first-half which helped them beat Montpellier to win a place in the semi-finals of the European Challenge Cup.

Gear scored two tires and Miles Benjamin, Sam Tuitupou and Craig Gillies all crossed the whitewash as the Warriors hit their French opponents hard with 33 first-half points.

But Montpellier crossed twice in the first half through Fulgence Ouedraogo and Vasco Uva, and Fabien Rofes and Warren Britz scored tries after the break to ensure nerves started to grow for the hosts.

Shane Drahm kicked a late penalty though to stretch the lead to ten points and that's how it stayed as Mike Ruddock's men made it five games unbeaten to book a semi-final spot.

Starting strength

Worcester hit the ground running and after a good start resulted in Benjamin going over under the posts for a 7-0 lead in just three minutes.

Montpellier hit back straight away though as captain Ouedraogo touched down in the corner with Argentinian stand-off Federico Todeschini converting.

The hosts did not let up though and Pat Sanderson committed two defenders before finding Gear to run in on 20 minutes to restore their seven-point lead.

All Black centre Tuitupou then flew over before Montpellier number eight Uva dived over to bring Montpellier back within a converted score of the hosts.

Gear bagged a fourth try for Worcester and Drahm hit the target to make it 26-12, before second row Gillies crossed the line just before the interval to send the Warriors in 33-12 ahead at half time.

Yellow card

Sanderson was sent to the sin-bin on the hour mark for deliberately killing the ball, and that killed Worcester's momentum as the visitors then hit back.

Hooker Rofes went over under the posts almost immediately, and replacement number eight Britz charged through to score to make it 33-26 with the conversion.

The nerves were growing at Sixways but Worcester sealed the win with a Drahm penalty eight minutes from time to book their place in the semi-finals for the second time in three years.