Montpellier 35

Connacht 22

Connacht ran in four tries for the second week running but it was not enough to secure victory in Montpellier.

Montpellier were reduced to fourteen men after just five minutes when fly-half Francois Trinh-Duc was red-carded for an appalling tackle on Conor O'Loughlin.

But with English referee Rob Debney awarding a penalty count of 15-3 to Montpellier, the home side got enough possession to win the game.

Connacht half-backs O'Loughlin and Mark McHugh scored first-half tries but a brace from Georgian international Mamuka Gorgodze saw Montpellier lead 16-12 at the break.

A try from scrum-half Julien Tomas and the busy boot of Regis Lespinas increased Montpellier's lead before Keith Matthews made the opening for Danny Riordan to get in for a fine try in the left corner.

Connacht continued to press but precious little went in their favour, although Riordan grabbed another try in the closing minutes after Paul Warwick and Darren Yapp made the opening.

SCORERS

Montpellier:

Tries: Gorgodze (2), Tomas

Con: Lespinas

Pens: Lespinas (6)

Connacht:

Tries: Riordan (2), O’Loughlin, McHugh.

Con: McHugh

Montpellier: O Sarramea; A Koko, R Lespinas, A Stoica, J Boussuge; F Trinh-Duc, J Tomas; P Toleafo, J Caudullo, N Decamps; G Uva, M Gorgodze; M Macurdy, F Ouedraogo, J Russell.

Replacements: H Crane for Ouedraogo, 15 mins; S Petit for Toleafoa, half-time; C Baiocco for Decamps, half-time; N Grelon for Caudullo, 55 mins; C Mathie for Gorgodze, 55 mins; S Mercier for Boussuge, 64 mins; L Picamoles for Russell, 64 mins; Russell for Macurdy, 37 mins.

Connacht: D Riordan; K Matthews, P Warwick, G Williams, T Robinson; M McHugh, C O’Loughlin; B Wilkinson, J Fogarty(C), S Knoop; R Strudwick, A Farley; M Swift, M Lacey, J Muldoon.

Replacements: C Keane for O’Loughlin, 45 mins; D Gannon for Strudwick, 55 mins; C Rigney for Swift, 55 mins; D Yapp for McHugh, 55 mins; C McPhillips for Robinson, 58 mins.

Referee: Rob Debney (England).