Ruthless Montpellier end Ulster's Challenge Cup dream

Montpellier (26) 59

Tries: N'Gandebe, Taofifenua 2, Vunipola, Becognee, Nouchi, Erdocio, Hounkpatin, Vincent Cons: Miotti 5, Coly 2

Ulster (12) 26

Tries: Timoney, Izuchukwu, Baloucoune, Lowry Cons: Doak 2, Flannery

Ruthless Montpellier ended Ulster's hopes of winning a first trophy in 20 years with a 59-26 victory in the Challenge Cup final in Bilbao.

Captain Nick Timoney got Ulster off to the perfect start, but Gabriel N'Gandebe and Donovan Taofifenua soon capitalised on errors to give Montpellier the lead.

Cormac Izuchukwu's try got Ulster back within touching distance, but skipper Billy Vunipola and Alex Becognee gave the French side a 26-12 lead at the break.

In clinical fashion, Montpellier put the game beyond Ulster nine minutes into the second half.

First, Taofifenua's superb finish in the corner extended Montpellier's lead, and Lenni Nouchi then powered over as the French side put one hand on the trophy.

The returning Robert Baloucoune scored a superb try for brief respite, but Baptiste Erdocio and Wilfrid Hounkpatin responded in brutal fashion to end any faint hopes of a comeback.

Michael Lowry got a consolation score, but Montpellier were left to celebrate as they lifted the Challenge Cup for a third time as Arthur Vincent put icing on the cake.

Not only do Ulster miss out on silverware, but they also miss out on qualification for the Champions Cup next season.

It brings the season to a close for Richie Murphy's side as they failed to make the United Rugby Championship play-offs in a gutting eight days for the Irish province.

Montpellier nullify Ulster's fast start

Figure caption,

'We'll learn from this and move on' - Murphy

In sweltering heat of 33 degrees at kick-off in Bilbao, Ulster settled well and made a strong start when Nathan Doak's kick wasn't gathered and Juarno Augustus charged into the 22.

Ulster worked through the phases and, with their second penalty advantage, captain Timoney took a quick penalty and flew over the line in the second minute, with Doak adding the extras.

Montpellier hit straight back with their first attack of the game. Zac Ward missed a tackle and that opened the space for the French side to rattle forward as Auguste Cadot found N'Gandebe who raced over, and Domingo Miotti levelled the game from the tee.

In a frantic start, Ulster thought they got over again when Harry Sheridan went for the line but, in the humid conditions, he lost the ball forward when being tackled as he tried to ground.

Another Ulster mistake in the 15th minute flipped the game on its head. Tom Stewart overthrew a line-out five metres from the Ulster line and Montpellier moved the ball quickly for Taofifenua to cross out wide, and Miotti again converted.

Ulster rallied once more and got a deserved second try.

Second row Izuchuwku latched on to James Hume's short pass with a superb line and he raced over in the corner in the 27th minute. Doak was unable to land the tricky conversion out wide as Montpellier led by two.

But, from there the French side started to turn the screw.

Their lead extended to nine when Vunipola rounded off another scintillating Montpellier attack and Miotti landed his third conversion of the game.

Becognee crashed over from a maul, and the flanker's turnover at the end of the half ended a frantic opening 40 minutes in the San Mames stadium.

Hopes dashed as Montpellier pull away

Image caption,

Donovan Taofifenua's superb try set the tone for the second half for Montpellier

Montpellier almost struck a blow moments into the second half as N'Gandebe was only denied his second try of the game when Michael Lowry raced back to deny the wing as the pair chased a kicked ball, but the game was soon put beyond Ulster.

From the following scrum, Taofifenua acrobatically finished in the corner and Miotti's superb night from the tee continued with a touchline conversion.

Ulster's night went from bad to worse as they began to toil in the heat. Montpellier were hammering the line and Nouchi was next to score with a powerful drive. Miotti again converted to put Montpellier 28 points clear and take his own personal tally to 10.

Baloucoune, making his first appearance since the Six Nations, almost got in as he chased his own kick. He then got his try when he latched on to the ball on the edge of the 22 and waltzed over the line, and Doak converted.

But that was brief remedy before Montpellier's next blow. An unstoppable rolling maul was finished by Erdocio, and the champions-in-waiting had their seventh try, while Leo Coly picked up where Miotti left off with his first conversion of the game.

It was copy and paste as Hounkpatin crashed over from Montpellier's next line-out, and Coly again converted.

Lowry raced over with seven minutes to play as Ulster refused to go out without a fight, but Montpellier's domination was summed up by Vincent's try with 90 seconds left.

Montpellier: T Banks; G Ngandebe, A Vincent, A Cadot, D Taofifenua; D Miotti, A Price; E Forletta, J Uelese, M Haouas, F Verhaeghe, T Duguid, L Nouchi, A Becognee, B Vunipola (capt).

Replacements: L Akrab, B Erdocio, W Hounkpatin, A Beard, M Tauleigne, L Coly, T Darmon, J Echegaray.

Ulster: M Lowry; R Baloucoune, J Hume, J Postlethwaite, Z Ward; J Murphy, N Doak; A Bell, T Stewart, T O'Toole, H Sheridan, C Izuchukwu, D McCann, N Timoney (captain), J Augustus.

Replacements: J McCormick, E O'Sullivan, S Wilson, C Irvine, B Ward, C McKee, J Flannery, E McIlroy.

Referee: Matthew Carley (RFU)

Assistant referees: Andrea Pirardi (Ita), Craig Evans (Wal)

TMO: Mike Adamson (Sco)