Montpellier, fired by a brace of tries from Australian full-back Jesse Mogg, sealed the first ever trophy in their history after beating Harlequins last night to lift the European Challenge Cup.
The result ensured there was no fairytale ending to Conor O’Shea’s reign at Quins, the Irishman now moving on to coach Italy.
Nick Evans got the scoreboard ticking over with an early penalty after a ruck infringement, with Montpellier’s Demetri Catrakilis responding almost immediately.
In a cagey opening period, Quins took the game to Montpellier but the French side, coached by Jake White, suddenly sprang into action with a fabulous try.
South African lock Paul Willemse broke a tackle and drove into midfield before being brought down. The ball was recycled quickly and the ever-alert Frans Steyn spotted a rush defence and unleashed a huge pass to Mogg, just on the pitch for injured Benjamin Fall, on the wing. Mogg swapped passes with Anthony Tuitavake to cross for a try in the corner that Catrakilis converted.
With alarm bells ringing that the match might be running away from Quins, Evans scored two penalties. Montpellier’s Fijian winger Timoci Nagusa had a try disallowed early in the second period but the Top 14 side got their due rewards after several minutes of pressure.
Montpellier too strong and too efficient plus they've got Bismark du Plessis. Easiest MOM decision of the season
— Brendan gallagher (@gallagherbren) May 13, 2016
Replacement scrum-half Benoit Paillauge chipped to the corner for Mogg, who out-jumped Wales centre Jamie Roberts to cleanly take the ball and touch down for his second.
Harlequins’ Dutch-born Scotland winger Tim Visser fluffed a similar chip from Mike Brown at the other end of the pitch at Lyon’s Grand Stade to sum up their lack of attacking edge.
Catrakilis continued his kicking masterclass with a fourth penalty before Marland Yarde did well to scoop up a delicate Mike Brown grubber kick and cross the whitewash for a try converted by Ben Botica, who also nailed a penalty to set up a nerve-racking final five minutes.
But it all turned out to be too late as Montpellier held on.
