Champions Cup: Newcastle Falcons score winning try in 89th minute to down Montpellier

Sport360 staff 00:37 22/10/2018
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  • Sinoti Sinoti celebrates after Callum Chick scored the last minute, match winning try for the Falcons

    Dean Richards believes his Newcastle Falcons side are still the underdogs in the Champions Cup Pool 5 despite securing a dramatic win over Montpellier.

    The Falcons snatched a dramatic 23-20 victory over star-studded Montpellier to go top of their pool.

    With England head coach Eddie Jones in the stands, Newcastle led 16-6 at half-time and after last weekend’s heroics against Toulouse, the Falcons looked to be heading for another win against a side boasting a dozen internationals led by France number eight Louis Picamoles.

    But Ruan Pienaar kicked two crucial penalties and lock Paul Willemse rumbled over for a try to give the visitors a 20-16 lead.

    With the clock showing full time, the Falcons mounted one last attack following a penalty to the corner and after a staggering 39 phases, lock Callum Chick was driven over and Joel Hodgson converted for a last-gasp victory.

    But despite that win the Newcastle director of Rugby said: “Things haven’t changed. We are still the minnows and we still have absolutely nothing to lose. We weren’t given a hope in hell of winning one, never mind two games in the pool.

    “We play Edinburgh in December and they are a fantastic team; they are on fire. They have something like 15 current full internationals. We’re not in that position so we still have nothing to lose.”

    The Falcons went through 39 phases during eight minutes of overtime before scoring their winning try and Richards added: “I’ve been involved in a few finishes like that, but that was one of the best because of the players involved here.

    Joel Hodgson converted for a last-gasp win.

    Joel Hodgson converted for a last-gasp win.

    “Montpellier are a star-studded side and they can take off an international or two and drop another in there while we are just a bunch of guys who want to play for each other and make it work.

    “Before that 39 phases, we couldn’t keep it for more than one or two! But I think we probably just about deserved the win and it’s hats off to the referee for being consistent with his decisions, especially during those 39 phases.

    “We knew they would come back at us and they did. We just tried to make sure we played in the right areas to make them work for their points and it was a little bit disappointing that our own ill discipline helped them, but the win is a real shot in the arm for us.”

    Montpellier head coach Vern Cotter believes his side still have a good chance of qualifying for the knockout stages.

    Cotters remains positive about Montpellier's progression.

    Cotters remains positive about Montpellier’s progression.

    “They managed to keep the ball for eight minutes at the end of the game to win and you have to give them credit for that – it’s a sign of a good team,” he said.

    “We’re just disappointed with out first half performance and we have to learn the lesson from that. We just didn’t start well which was disappointing but they are a good team.

    “We played much better in the second half and stopped them expressing themselves well but we just didn’t get enough points on the board.

    “Away wins in Europe are hard to come by, but we’ll take away what we did well as well as what we didn’t and work on that.

    “I though we did some things well and we now move back to Top 14 and we will see what happens when we play the two pool games against Toulon. We’re still hoping to put in the necessary good performances to qualify.”

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