BATH OVERRUN IN FINAL QUEST
Montpellier 19
BATH blew the chance of a European Challenge Cup final against Leicester after shooting themselves in the foot against Montpellier.
Stuart Hooper’s (below) men had home advantage and scored first but what good work they did was undone by a disastrous lineout – allowing the French side to take their place at Twickenham on May 21.
Time and again Bath put themselves in a position to hurt Montpellier – only to cough up possession along the touchlines.
They started the better, ripping into opponents who had not played for three weeks and being rewarded when Tom Dunn went over inside four minutes.
At that point Montpellier’s heads were spinning and had the home side not blown two lineouts they might have built a significant advantage.
But the inconsistencies which have plagued the West Countrymen for too long once again proved their undoing – allowing Montpellier to gain a foothold.
It proved fatal as once their tails were up the wealthy French club quickly took control through half-backs Benoit Paillaugue and Alex Lozowski.
Lozowski, on loan from Saracens, made two superb line breaks to rock Bath back on their heels and Paillaugue then set to work on the scoreboard.
By half-time the scrum-half had a hat-trick of penalties to
TODAY: his name and played a major part in Yacouba Camara’s 23rd-minute try, dinking a clever chip to Vincent Rattez who slipped the money pass inside to his flanker.
Bath were in a hole and, unlike Leicester on Friday night, were unable to turn the tide in the third quarter despite phase after phase of pressure resulting in a yellow card for Montpellier prop Enzo Forletta.
The frustration was clear in Bath’s pride of Lions wannabes, seeing their tour hopes diminish in front of Warren Gatland and his two coaching assistants.
They kept working, with Joe Cokanasiga powering to within inches of the line. But again Bath’s lineout let them down, replacement hooker Jack Walker this time missing his target in the red zone.
Montpellier sent on World Cup winning Springboks Handre Pollard and Bismarck du Plessis to defend their one-score lead – and Du Plessis it was who won a critical turnover on his own line.
It was a huge moment, injecting energy into the 2016 champions who, like Bath, have been chronic underachievers.
And when Du Plessis escaped punishment for an elbow in the face of Elliott Stooke, Philippe Saint-Andre’s side sensed it was their night.
Pollard kicked a penalty in the final minute and Bath’s fate was sealed.
BATH: Tries: Dunn Pens: Spencer Con: Bailey MONTPELLIER: Tries: Camara Pens: Paillaugue (3), Pollard Con: Paillaugue