Montpellier beat Bath convincingly in Champions Cup opener
French club Montpellier won 32-14 at English side Bath in the rugby union Champions Cup pool stage. It capped a disappointing Saturday for English Premiership clubs in the European competition.
French club Montpellier beat Bath of England 32-14 in the opening Pool Four match of the Champions Cup, the elite European club rugby union competition. The result completed a poor Saturday for English Premiership sides: Bath became the fourth English club to lose its first pool game.
How the match unfolded
Montpellier full-back Stuart Hogg, a former Scotland international, scored the first points. Bath replied with tries from England centre Ollie Lawrence and number eight Arthur Green to go in front. Adam Hastings kept the French side close with a penalty, and Bath led 14-10 at half-time.
Bath had a try disallowed in each half, and Joe Cokanasiga failed to gather a pass cleanly with the tryline close. Almost immediately, winger Donovan Taofifenua dived in at the corner to put Montpellier 15-14 ahead.
Taofifenua later intercepted a pass from Finn Russell and scored his second try. Alex Becognee added a late try to seal the win. Montpellier scored 22 unanswered points after the break, with Hastings kicking three conversions and two penalties.
What comes next
Bath's remaining pool matches are against Cardiff, South Africa's Bulls and Stade Francais. The latter two met on Saturday, with the Bulls winning 56-20 and Cheswill Jooste scoring a hat-trick.
On Friday, Gloucester drew with holders Bordeaux, while Sale, Bristol and Saracens also lost their openers. Leicester, Exeter and Northampton play on Sunday.
