European dream over as Ulster suffer Challenge Cup final blow against mighty Montpellier
Ulster’s wait for a trophy will go into a 21st season as Richie Murphy’s men were outpowered and outgunned by Montpellier in the European Challenge Cup final defeat by 59-26.
The Top 14 side were clinical, scoring nine tries at the San Mames Stadium in Bilbao.
It was a double blow for Murphy’s men as they failed to end their two-decade trophy drought plus have failed to qualify for the Champions Cup for a second consecutive season.
Ulster made the perfect start with a try from captain Nick Timoney after three minutes.
Tom Banks failed to deal with a Nathan Doak box kick, Juarno Augustus picked up and carried into the 22 and David McCann had a surge for the line.
Ulster had a series of pick and goes on the line and, with a penalty advantage, Timoney went over from close range with Doak converting.
Montpellier replied immediately, Billy Vunipola was involved three times with big carries, centre Auguste Cadot cut through the defence before offloading to winger Gabriel N'Gandebe to go over as out half Domingo Miotti added the conversion.
Ulster thought they had regained the lead as Harry Sheridan surged over but the ball was dislodged as the lock tried to ground it.
The French side took the lead on 16 minutes when, from a defensive five-metre lineout Tom Stewart over threw, Montpellier gathered had a couple of phases on the line before Miotti floated the ball for winger Donovan Taofifenua to run in unopposed. The Argentine out half converted
Ulster got their second try on 27 minutes and it was the first time Richie Murphy’s side showed enterprise with ball in hand as Cormac Izuchukwu hit a gap at speed and sprinted clear to touch down but Doak failed to convert.
Montpellier again responded immediately, the backs moved the ball at pace before the forwards went to the power game in the 22 and skipper Vunipola stretched to ground the ball from close range, which Miotti converted.
The Top 14 side’s fourth try was sheer power. Izuchukwu conceded a penalty and Montpellier nudged it into the corner. The forwards set up a maul and they just steamrolled their way to the line, with flanker Alex Becognee touching down.
Miotti failed to convert and the French side went into the interval with a 26-12 lead.
From the restart, Montpellier lay siege to the Ulster line.
The French side were awarded a penalty close to the Ulster line and took a quick tap, the forwards powered on before Miotti threw a long pass for Taofifenua to acrobatically finish in the corner and Miotti converted.
A rampant Montpellier added their sixth try three minutes later as Vunipola provided the scoring pass for backrow colleague Lenni Nouchi to barge over and Miotti converted.
Rob Baloucounce showed his pace and footwork to go over for Ulster’s third try on 55 minutes, which Doak converted.
Any thoughts of comeback were quickly dispelled as Montpellier kicked a penalty to the corner then the forwards drove Ulster back at a rate of knots for replacement prop Baptiste Erdocio to touch down as Leo Coly converted.
The French side’s next try came three minutes later, again it was a penalty to the corner – but from a long throw.
Nouchi went though two tiring tacklers, he was stopped short but the ball quickly recycled and tighthead replacement prop Wilfrid Hounkpatin crashed over before Coly converted.
Lowry got a late try for Ulster which Jake Flannery converted.
Montpellier had the last word, again from a lineout, as they just launched their back runners at a ragged Ulster defence to create space and it was shifted wide quickly then Arthur Vincent went over unchallenged for a converted try.
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 (captain).
Replacements: L Akrab for Uelese 57 mins, B Erdocio for Forletta 57 mins, W Hounkpatin for Haouas 57 mins, A Beard for Verhaeghe 52 mins, M Tauleigne for Vunipola 49 mins, L Coly for Miotti 55 mins, T Darmon, J Echegaray for Banks 57 mins
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 for Stewart 76 mins, E O'Sullivan for Bell 49 mins, S Wilson for O’Toole 50 mins, C Irvine for Sheridan 60 mins, B Ward for Augustus 57 mins, C McKee for Doak 64 mins, J Flannery for Murphy 64 mins, E McIlroy for Postlewaite 57 mins
Referee: M Carly (RFU)