Montpellier beat Bath 32-14 in Champions Cup opener

Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 18 Oct, 08:31 · Archive

Montpellier defeated Bath 32-14 in the opening weekend of the Champions Cup, scoring 22 unanswered second-half points.

Montpellier defeated Bath 32-14 in a Pool Four match on the opening weekend of the Champions Cup, with the French side scoring 22 unanswered points after half-time to overturn a deficit.

Bath had moments in the first half, with centre Ollie Lawrence and number eight Arthur Green both crossing for tries to give the hosts a lead. However, Bath's attack was blunted as the match progressed. They had a try disallowed in both halves and Joe Cokanasiga failed to cleanly gather a pass with the tryline beckoning when they led 14-10 early in the second period.

Montpellier, beaten finalists in the French Top 14 last season and Challenge Cup winners the season before, capitalised on Bath's missed opportunities. Donovan Taofifenua scored twice in the second half and Alex Becognee added another try, while Stuart Hogg and Adam Hastings contributed earlier. The victory came on a disappointing Saturday for English clubs in the Champions Cup, with Sale, Bristol and Saracens also losing their opening fixtures. Gloucester drew with defending champions Bordeaux on Friday.

How it is being reported

• Meaty Montpellier leave Bath reeling and offer Prem French lessonsBath had their moments in a 32-14 defeat, but Montpellier deployed old-fashioned grit and guile to play them off their own park Nobody really knows what to make of the orgy of tries that is English rugby these days. The dazzling hands, the scarcely believable comebacks, the, er, bewildered defences. Evidence of a new dimension of attacking rugby, uncontainable and breathless? Or not to be trusted? Bath have found themselves of late at the heart of the debate – and in this 32-14 defeat they were reminded what rugby feels like when served up in more old-fashioned style, hard and brutal.…The Guardian · 18 Oct, 08:00
• Bath lose at home to Montpellier in Champions CupMontpellier score 22 second-half points without reply to beat Bath on the opening weekend of the Champions Cup.BBC Sport · 17 Oct, 22:02

In this story: Bath · Montpellier · Donovan Taofifenua · Ollie Lawrence · Joe Cokanasiga · Stuart Hogg · Alex Becognee · Arthur Green

This summary was written by AI from the headlines and standfirsts above, and states as fact only what at least two outlets report. How we use AI · Report a problem