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LEICESTER TIGERS v BRISTOL BEARS
– MATCHFILE – MONTPELLIER 18-17 LEICESTER TIGERS Friday May 21 2021 / European Challenge Cup Final Attendance: 10,000 / Referee: Mr Andrew Brace LEICESTER TIGERS 15 Freddie Steward 14 Guy Porter 13 Matías Moroni 12 Dan Kelly 11 Nemani Nadolo 10 George Ford P/2C 9 Richard Wigglesworth
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Ellis Genge Tom Youngs (c) Dan Cole Harry Wells Calum Green Hanro Liebenberg Tommy Reffell Jasper Wiese
Tigers were beaten by a single point as Montpellier lifted the silverware at Twickenham. After a day of heavy rain and strong winds, conditions had improved for kick-off with the crowd enjoying a chance at last to attend live sport. Montpellier were warned about their indiscipline early on after a series of penalties, before George Ford opened the scoring with a 25-metre kick on eight minutes. The lead lasted just a few minutes as Vincent Rattez kicked down the touchline in the left-hand corner and just got a hand to the ball ahead of Matias Moroni as it bounced wickedly on the tryline. Benoit Paillauge added the conversion and then a penalty for a 10-3 advantage. Tigers lost Guy Porter and Cyle Brink to injury in the opening half-hour but levelled the scores when more pressure ended with a yellow card for Alexandre Becognee and, after a 20-metre lineout drive, Harry Wells reached over the pile of bodies to score and Ford converted. Nemani Nadolo almost added another at the start of the second half as he dived into the corner but, when
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Charlie Clare Luan de Bruin Joe Heyes Cameron Henderson Tommy Reffell Ben Youngs Zack Henry Kini Murimurivalu
Montpellier had skipper Guilhem Guirado sin-binned, Tigers piled forward again for Jasper Wiese to score from a maul. Ford converted from the touchline for a 17-10 lead. After a penalty from Paillaugue, Montpellier set up a try from a counter-attack finished by Johan Goosen and, though the conversion bounced out off both posts, they led by a point and maintained that to the close. NOTEBOOK… First final since 2017 Anglo-Welsh Cup, first European final since 2009… Tigers have now played
MONTPELLIER: Bouthier, Vincent, Goosen, Serfontein, Rattez, Lozowski, Paillaugue; Forletta, Guirado (c), Haouas, Verhaeghe, Willemse, Ouedraogo, Camara, Becognee. Reps: B Du Plessis, Rodgers, Lamositele, Duguid, J Du Plessis, Reinach, Pollard, N’gandebe
25 finals at Twickenham, winning 12… Club’s first game with crowd in UK since February 2020… Ben Youngs set club appearance record with 75th Euro game… Montpellier win trophy for second time in five years. QUOTE... “I’m proud of the team’s efforts, 41 players have played in this tournament and given an opportunity for 23 guys to go out there and represent Tigers. We have been about moving the ship forward and I felt we did that today.” Tom Youngs
