Montpellier defeat Dragons to set up Ulster final

Dragons almost produced a brilliant try in the opening minute after a well-worked line-out saw Owen released wing David Richards, but his wayward pass to flanker Thomas Young went awry with the Montpellier line begging to be breached.

The hosts settled and Vincent slotted over the opening penalty. Vincent then almost collected his own chip before some fine covering work from Young, who followed this with a crucial turnover after the Dragons forwards had repelled a driving maul.

Dragons appeared to have pierced the Montpellier defence through a Tinus de Beer break but his pass was intercepted by Australian full-back Tom Banks.

The ball was shifted to Auguste Cadot but a brilliant piece of defence from retreating Wales wing Rio Dyer denied the home centre.

Dragons' defence, under the tutelage of Dale Macleod and Dan Lydiate, has been much improved this season, epitomised by Dyer's character as he refused to give up on a seemingly lost cause.

It only delayed the opening try with Banks involved again as lock DuGuid cantered over.

Dragons were struggling on their own line-outs but encouraged by another incisive de Beer break and Owen turnover penalty.

Richards epitomised the Dragons never-say-die attitude when he chased down a kick and forced Banks to lose possession over his own line.

Richards and Owen pounced on the ball with the try awarded to the centre.

Dragons hang in but Montpellier hang on for victory

Montpellier responded by asserting more dominance but Vincent failed to slot over a penalty, before Dragons co-captain O'Brien expertly snuffed out another probing home attack.

Carter was penalised in a maul and Vincent made amends with the final kick of the half with his second penalty as Montpellier led 13-5 at the interval to typify the superiority in territory and possession.

Montpellier's dominance, with number eight Lenni Nouchi and Bernadet particularly influential, continued in the early second-half exchanges but they were frustrated and repelled by the Dragons' dynamic defence.

The visitors' lack of possession and attacking endeavour was not helped by a couple of wayward kicks.

A rare Dragons attack demonstrated how fluent the Welsh side could be and yielded a yellow card for Montpellier replacement prop Nika Abuladze for a deliberate knock-on.

Wales number eight Aaron Wainwright was denied from an attacking line-out as Dragons failed to make the extra player tell.

There were question marks surrounding the Dragons' game management, while an uncharacteristic O'Brien error provided Montpellier with an attacking scrum.

It proved a pivotal moment as a powerful Nouchi burst set up a deserved try for Bernadet, with Montpellier scoring despite being down to 14 players.

Dragons again rallied and looked to Owen who burst over from a line-out move to give the visitors hope in the final seven minutes and set up a frantic finale.

But Montpellier held on for victory as Dragons could not capitalise on their momentum.

What they said

Dragons co-captain Angus O'Brien told S4C: "It was an unbelievable effort by the boys and we are gutted not to come away with the result.

"To come out here and have an opportunity to win the game is testament to where we have come as a group this season.

"We have to use that as fuel to kick on from here, but I am gutted we didn't get the result."

Montpellier lock Adam Beard told S4C: "We talked about how the Dragons are a physical team who like to make life uncomfortable at the breakdown. They put us under a lot of pressure and we made a lot of mistakes.

"We would have liked the game to be plain sailing but credit to the Dragons, they are on a good run and made life hard for us.

"We're just happy to get over the line in the end."

Line-ups

Montpellier: Banks; Taofifenua, Cadot, Anyanwu, Rates; Vincent, Bernadet; Erdocio, Riccitelli, Welsch, Beard, DuGuid, Tauleigne, Becognee, Nouchi (capt).

Replacements: Akrab, Abuladze, Haouas, Y Camara, Masibaka, Baraer, Miotti, Darmon.

Sin-bin: Abuladze 59

Dragons: O'Brien (co-capt); Richards, Inisi, Owen, Dyer; de Beer, Armstrong; Martinez, Dee, Coleman, Douglas, Carter (co-capt), Woodman, Young, Wainwright.

Replacements: Coghlan, W Jones, D Lewis, S Davies, Keddie, M Lloyd, Paea, Anderson.

Referee: Andrew Brace (Ireland)

Assistant referees: Karl Dickson (England), Filippo Russo (Italy)

TMO: Olly Hodges (Ireland)