Montpellier v Dragons Match Report

Newport Gwent Dragons made their way to France to take on Montpellier in their second semi-final in two years, after beating Gloucester in the quarter-final of the European Rugby Challenge Cup.

Early pressure from the Montpellier starting XV was what met the Dragons at the Altrad Stadium. However with the Dragons holding starong they were the first to get the chance to add points to the scoreboard after just over five minutes of play. Fly-half Dorian Jones missed the penalty and the chance for the Welsh Region to add points to the scoreboard.

It’s the home side that get the first three points on the board with a successful penalty kick slotted over the posts by Demetri Catrakilis. Another silly penalty from the Men of Gwent saw the Top 14 side kick another three points.

With Montpellier continuing to put pressure on the Dragons they continued their attack and made it within inches of the whitewash hoever the Dragons defence held strong and referee Wayne Barnes deemed the ball to be held up. But with a penalty awarded previous to this Cartakilis kicked his third penalty of the first half.

Monpellier added another three points with the long-range penalty kick coming from Benoit Paillaugue, after the Dragons were pinged at the scrum on the halfway line.

Dragons have the final kick of the frst half, this time Carl Meyer kicing the ball, but he misses the posts and the scores at half time remain 12-0.

Half Time: Montpellier 12 – Newport Gwent Dragons 0

Newport Gwent Dragons begin the second half well but silly errors cost them and as they are penalised at the scrum Catrakilis kicks his forth penalty and makes it 15-0 after 50 minutes.

Their next points came from a driving line-out with Bismarck du Plessis claiming the try; once again the Montpellier fly-half does the business and slots over the kick.

It was in the 60^th minute when the Dragons finally found their feet and crossed the whitewash. A break from Meyer an offload to Faletau, who found the hands of Amos saw the winger cross. However Meyer missed the conversion.

With around 5 minutes left in the match fullback Carl Meyer found his own way through the French defence to cross of the Dragons second try. And with a conversion from replacement Angus O’Brien saw the final whistle blown on a score of 22-10, despite a last minute attack from the visitors.

Full Time: Montpellier 22 – Newport Gwent Dragons 12